PREP ROUNDUP: Kretchmar heads to state as district runner-up

PORT CLINTON — Vermilion sophomore Severin Kretchmar earned a D-II district runner-up medal on Saturday ahead of his trip to the state tournament. Kretchmar, who had already locked up his state berth with a quarterfinal win earlier in the week, won his district semifinal on Saturday morning 7-5, 6-2 over Savith Vijendra of Ottawa Hills. Lexington's Karl Etzel dispatched of Kretchmar in the district final 6-2, 6-0. The victory sends Kretchmar to state as a second-place finisher, which means his first match will come against a third-place player from another district. Announced Sunday, Kretchmar will open state play against St. Vincent-St. Mary junior Ben McKnight. Kretchmar extended his program single-season wins record with his 28th victory of the season. He's now 28-5. The OHSAA D-II state tournament begins Thursday, May 25 at the Ohio State University Ty Tucker Tennis Center. Tinora sets up regional matchup with Huron HOLLAND — Huron softball won its district championship on Friday night and had to wait until Saturday to know who it'd play next. The answer: Defiance Tinora, which won the Springfield District championship 14-4 over Eastwood in five innings. It was a repeat district crown for Tinora. The Rams erupted out of the gates, putting up all 14 runs through three innings. They finished with 16 hits. Paige Gamby, a freshman, went 4-for-4 with two home runs. Pitcher Scylea Zolman, a Tiffin University commit, also homered. Tinora had advanced through the district semifinal with a comeback, eight-inning win over Oak Harbor by a 9-8 scoreline. Zolman homered twice in that game. Huron and Tinora will play at 5 p.m. in Bucyrus on Wednesday.