CASTALIA — For the first time in more than three decades, the conference championship trophy is heading back to Margaretta. Powered by a dominant performance from junior left-hander Mason Kromer, the Margaretta Polar Bears rolled to a 12-0 five-inning victory over Willard Crimson Flashes Tuesday night at Lions Park to secure the program’s first Sandusky Bay Conference baseball title since 1993. Margaretta improved to 16-5 overall and finished 9-1 in the SBC Bay Division, earning a share of the league championship with Edison Chargers. Kromer was nearly untouchable from the opening pitch. The junior struck out 10 batters and allowed just one hit over five innings while facing the minimum number of hitters. He also helped his own cause at the plate, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. The only Willard baserunner came in the fourth inning when Roger Whetstone reached on a ground ball that bounced off the third-base bag. Any momentum quickly disappeared moments later when catcher Memphis McKenzie fired behind the runner to first baseman Hunter Heck for a perfectly executed pickoff. Margaretta’s offense steadily built momentum throughout the night before breaking the game open with a seven-run third inning. The Polar Bears grabbed the early lead in the second inning after Gavin Berg came through with a two-out, two-run single that scored Kromer and Carter Kelley. In the third, Margaretta sent 11 hitters to the plate in a relentless offensive surge. Hunter Grahl started the inning with a double, and Emmett Leibengood followed with an infield single. Kromer later ripped a two-run single before Heck added another two-run hit. Zach Gray continued his strong season with an RBI double — his second double of the game — as the Bears pushed the lead comfortably into run-rule territory. Margaretta added three more runs in the fourth inning, including another RBI single by Kromer. Senior Mason Yetter added a memorable moment with a pinch-hit RBI single that brought loud cheers from the crowd and dugout. The victory marked a dramatic turnaround for a program that finished 11-18 one year ago. Under veteran head coach Ray Neill, the Polar Bears have developed into one of the area’s top teams behind strong pitching, improved defense and timely hitting. Following the final out, players gathered near home plate to celebrate the historic accomplishment by drenching Neill with a mixture of sports drinks as the team celebrated the championship together. Margaretta’s senior group of Grahl, Leibengood, Yetter, Bren Smith and Teddy Woolaver helped lead the resurgence and now has the program positioned for a postseason run. The Bears will return to action Thursday against Seneca East before hosting Clyde on Friday at Bob Gray’s Field of Dreams. Final Score Willard: 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 1 2 Margaretta: 0 2 7 3 X — 12 11 0 Margaretta Leaders Mason Kromer — 5 IP, 1 H, 10 K; 3-for-3, 3 RBI, 2 runs Zach Gray — 2 doubles, RBI Hunter Heck — 2-run single Gavin Berg — 2-run single Hunter Grahl — double Mason Yetter — pinch-hit RBI single