FREMONT, Ohio (AP) — Margaretta’s record-breaking season added another milestone Thursday night. Behind a 10-strikeout performance from Zach Gray and a five-run second inning, the Polar Bears defeated Oak Harbor 9-3 in a Division V district semifinal at Alumni Field, earning the program’s 21st victory of the season and setting a new school record for wins. Margaretta improved to 21-6 and advanced to Saturday’s district championship game against perennial power Coldwater at Bluffton University. A victory would send the Polar Bears to the regional tournament for the first time since 1971. The game’s turning point came early. After a strange opening inning in which Gray appeared to score the game’s first run before an umpire interference call erased it, Oak Harbor immediately threatened in the bottom half. The Rockets loaded the bases with nobody out and scored on a fielder’s choice to take a 1-0 lead. The situation could have been much worse, but Gray responded by striking out the next two hitters to strand runners and limit the damage to a single run. That escape shifted momentum to the Polar Bears. Margaretta exploded for five runs in the second inning while sending nine batters to the plate. Mason Kromer reached on an error before Memphis McKenzie drilled a double to the left-field fence, putting runners in scoring position. Carter Kelley then reached on another Oak Harbor error to load the bases. Hunter Heck delivered the inning’s biggest hit, lining a two-strike single through the middle to score both Kromer and McKenzie and give the Polar Bears a lead they would never surrender. The pressure continued when Robbie LaCourse laid down a perfectly placed bunt single. Gray and Bren Smith followed with RBI groundouts before Hunter Grahl capped the inning with an RBI single up the middle, stretching the lead to 5-1. The five-run inning proved more than enough support for Gray. The senior right-hander repeatedly shut down Oak Harbor rallies throughout the evening. He finished with 10 strikeouts, matching his highest strikeout total of the season against the Rockets, while consistently delivering in high-pressure situations. Gray’s biggest moments came against Oak Harbor leadoff hitter Cooper Schultz. In the fourth inning, with runners aboard and two outs, Gray won the matchup with a strikeout to end the threat. In the sixth inning, Schultz represented another opportunity for the Rockets with two runners on base, but Gray induced a harmless pop-up to keep Margaretta comfortably in front. By the time Gray exited after six innings, the Polar Bears held a commanding lead and had received contributions throughout the lineup. Margaretta collected 10 hits in the victory. Grahl led the offensive attack with three hits, including RBI singles in the second and seventh innings. McKenzie provided one of the game’s biggest extra-base hits with his second-inning double and later scored. Heck drove in two runs with his clutch two-strike single, while Smith added an RBI groundout and later contributed a bunt single during the seventh inning. The Polar Bears added four insurance runs in the seventh inning to put the game out of reach. A walk, hit batter, throwing error and timely hitting fueled the rally. Smith’s bunt single kept the pressure on, while Grahl delivered another RBI hit as Margaretta expanded its advantage to 9-2. Gray also contributed offensively, leading off the game with a single and swiping both second and third base. Although he appeared to score on a throwing error, the play was ruled dead because of umpire interference. LaCourse worked the seventh inning in relief and allowed one run while recording the final three outs. Oak Harbor finished with seven hits and committed three errors. Bickelhaupt doubled, singled and scored a run for the Rockets, while Schultz provided relief pitching after entering the game in the second inning. Defensively, Margaretta handled difficult conditions that included strong winds throughout the contest. The Polar Bears committed just one error and made several routine plays look anything but routine as fly balls swirled around Alumni Field. With the school wins record now secured, Margaretta will attempt to add another piece of history Saturday. The Polar Bears are one win away from reaching the regional tournament for the first time in more than five decades. Margaretta 050 000 4 — 9 10 1 Oak Harbor 101 000 1 — 3 7 3 WP — Zach Gray LP — Nolan Bickelhaupt 2B — Memphis McKenzie (Margaretta), Nolan Bickelhaupt (Oak Harbor) Records — Margaretta 21-6, Oak Harbor 19-10 BCSN HIGHLIGHTS: Click Here PANCAKE INTERVIEW: Click Here