HOWARD — East Knox is looking for the sweep.
The Bulldogs will meet Cardington for a third time Monday afternoon in the Division IV district baseball semifinals in Howard.
East Knox was still searching for its identity the first two times the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference foes met in late-April. The Bulldogs used the 11-5 victory as a springboard to a second-half surge which included a 7-4 win over the Pirates less than a week later. East Knox is 10-3 since then after starting the season 3-9.
The fifth-seeded Bulldogs earned a spot in this week’s district tournament with a run rule-shortened 13-0 win over No. 13 Granville Christian Academy in the sectional finals. Landon Spearman had two hits, including a two-run double in the first. The Bulldogs put it away with a nine-run second inning.
Seventh-seeded Cardington advanced with a 7-3 upset of No. 4 Groveport Madison Christian. The Pirates scored five in the fourth to take control, with Avery Harper hitting a three-run, inside-the-park home run. Harper earned the win, striking out 14.
Danville will open district play on the road after the 10th-seeded Blue Devils knocked off No. 9 Tree of Life Christian 6-4 in the sectional finals. Trevor Sturgeon and Bryce Colopy each had two hits.
Danville will play at top-seeded Fisher Catholic in the district semifinals at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Fisher Catholic rumbled to an 18-0, five-inning win over No. 16 Shekinah Christian in the sectional finals.
In Division III, No. 2 seed Fredericktown will host No. 8 Mount Gilead at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the district semifinals. The Freddies advanced with a 13-0, five-inning win over No. 17 Northridge. Caleb Sheriff drove in four runs. Mount Gilead beat No. 10 Milford Center Fairbanks 2-1 to advance to district play.
