Kim North IN THE CIRCLE — Buckeye Local pitcher Karlie Lander fires against Union Local on Monday.

CONNORVILLE – When tournament time rolls around, it doesn’t matter what the records are nor the sport, it’s all about surviving and advancing.

Buckeye Local did just that in winning the Ohio Division V, East 1 sectional softball championship Monday over visiting Union Local. The No. 9 Panthers (14-8) defeated the 12th-seeded Jets (7-21) by an 8-6 count in a rapidly played game that took just 78 minutes.

“It’s darn hard to beat a team three times in the same season. All three games we played against them, hats off to them,” Buckeye Local head coach Joe Soos said of Union Local. “They are not a bad team at all. They deserve more wins than they have. I’ve got all the respect in the world for them.”

Buckeye Local had prevailed 6-5 at home and 3-1 in Morristown on back-to-back days during the regular season.

The Panthers put up six runs in the bottom of the third on four hits and four errors by the Jets. Winning pitcher Karlie Lander sparked the uprising with a two-run single as 11 batters went to the plate.

Union Local cut the deficit in half in the top of the fourth as it strung together three consecutive two-out hits. Alli Kellaway singled and raced around the bases on a double off the bat of Khloe Gallagher. Gallagher scored on Lily Blakely’s single.

The Jets drew even in the top of the sixth, thanks to RBI from Mati Brooks (bases-loaded walk) and Madi Springer (groundout) and some shoddy fielding by the hosts.

After squandering a scoring opportunity in the bottom of the fifth, the Panthers weren’t going to let that happen again in the sixth. Frankie Sawko and Peyton Palmer reached on consecutive infield singles leading off. A fielder’s choice erased pinch runner Myah Fabry at third and Addie Jones’ bunt hit her in fair territory for the second out. However, Lander delivered again with another two-run single.

“My girls never gave up, either,” Soos stressed. “I’m so proud of them. It’s just unbelievable. They are the sectional champions and no one can ever take that away from them. With all the stuff that has gone on in the last month-and-a-half, they deserve it. They really do.

“Now, as a reward, we get to go up against one of the top pitchers in the state in Tusky Valley’s (Brennen) Reichman,” Soos noted.

Lander finished with three singles. Danika Bauknecht and Sawko each singled twice. Lander also went the distance inside the circle, striking out two and walking one. She gave seven hits.

Kellaway singled and doubled, while losing pitcher Kylie Stidd and Lily Blakely each singled twice, with Blakely driving in a run. Stidd struck out two, walked one and spaced out nine singles.

“It just wasn’t meant to be. The girls have been fighting different things all season … sickness, injuries and a smaller squad, but I believe we are heading in the right direction,” first-year Union Local head coach Bridgette Brooks said.

Although Union Local committed five errors, it also turned in four web gems as Gallagher, a centerfielder, made a diving grab and snagged a liner on the run. Second baseman Myah Martin made a diving catch to her left and catcher Lily Blakely had a diving catch to snag a foul pop up.