By Rick Pedone

Sports Editor

Osceola and Harmony had to ride an hour to their respective district championship softball games Thursday, but the trips were worth it.

Osceola, behind pitcher Sasha Mendez, beat Lake Wales, 6-2, for the 5A-5 championship at Lake Wales High.

Harmony went to Eustis, where it beat Tavares, 3-1, for the 4A-6 championship.

Both teams play in the regionals next week.

Osceola, 23-5, will host the runner-up of Friday’s 5A-6 championship game between Bartow and George Jenkins Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Harmony, 18-7, gets the 4A-5 runner-up between Dunnellon and Belleview Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Osceola jumped to a 2-0 lead in the third inning Thursday on RBI singles from Morgan Crapo and Kaley Brosious. They added insurance runs in the fourth when Chantal Crockett’s double, bunts from Jessica Callahan and  Brosius, and an RBI single by Aiysa Dennis accounted for three more runs. Callahan doubled in Crockett in the seventh inning.

Kenya Pereira relieved Mendez in the seventh and pitched out of a bases-loaded jam after Lake Wales scored twice.

Osceola beat Haines City, 6-2, Wednesday in the semfinals. Pereira earned the victory.

Harmony’s Lauren Harris struck out eight and threw a five-hitter against Tavares Thursday and Aleisha Ocasio scored twice on a passed ball and on a sacrifice by Brianne Kimura.

After the Bulldogs scored to close the gap to 2-1, Beth Newcott scored on Jodi Nestle’s sacrifice fly.

Harmony reached the title game after blanking St. Cloud, 10-0, in five innings Tuesday in the semifinals. Breann Vanderzyl threw a no-hitter for the Longhorns and faced only 17 batters.

Winners of the regional quarterfinals advance to the semifinal round Friday. The regional finals are set for May 3. The state tournaments, in Clermont, begins May 9.