SHELBY — Colonel Crawford lost five of its first seven games of the season.

At that point, few except for maybe the most diehard Eagles fans could have envisioned them playing in a district championship game.

Defying long odds, not only did Colonel Crawford make it to the district final, the Eagles won the Division VI title Friday with a convincing 7-1 win over Western Reserve.

With the win, the Eagles move on to play Evergreen in the regional semifinal at Patrick Henry High School on Wednesday.

“It’s kind of a testament to the kids and the chemistry they built the second half of the year,” Colonel Crawford coach Jordan Oliver said. “We’re a young group and it took a while for it to all come together and everybody play their roles. The second half of the year, it’s all really worked out well and it’s been a lot of fun.”

It all started to gel when the No. 4 seeded Eagles pulled the mild upset over No. 3 seed Ashland Crestview. Colonel Crawford finished it off with the win over No. 2 Western Reserve.

The Eagles wasted no time in making a statement. The first five Colonel Crawford (13-13) batters reached base and all five eventually scored. Deagan Moore doubled, Parker Weithman and Van Wintersteller singled, Nate McCartney was hit by a pitch, Joe Zizzo was safe on an error.

“Their first three guys came out and swung the bats well,” Western Reserve coach Josh Good said. “I thought our pitcher (Landyn Wiegel) — he was throwing strikes, and they just hit his curve ball. He left it up maybe a little bit.”

Unfortunately, Wiegel had to leave the game before the first inning was complete due to an injury incurred during a collision at home plate. While he ultimately gave up the five first-inning runs, Wiegel’s successors did a stellar job of filling in on short notice.

After the first inning, the Eagles only edged the Roughriders 2-1.

Colonel Crawford starter Parker Weithman was able to control the game from there. The sophomore right-hander went the distance, striking out 10, walking four and scattering three hits.

“We honestly thought that might be a key,” Oliver said of his team’s quick start. “If we could come out and get some runs on them early, it would allow us to relax, allow Parker to relax on the mound.”

“Definitely, we put ourselves in an adversity standpoint,” Good said. “We still had some situations where we could plug away a couple runs. Their pitcher was dealing, but it was a 2-1 game after those first five runs.”

Tyler Wood and Cooper Roe relieved the injured Wiegel and went the final six-and two-thirds innings allowing just two runs on four hits.

Moore and Wintersteller had two hits each for the Eagles, while Weithman, McCartney, and Evan Metzger each singled.

“He’s got an infectious energy, and he is super confident,” Oliver said of Weithman. “We felt he’s played in the Final Four in basketball and played a part in our football success the last few years as a freshman and sophomore. So we stuck him out on the mound, and he did exactly what we expected him to.”

Good summarized why his team was unable to cut into the Colonel Crawford lead.

“The majority of the time we had two outs when we got guys on base,” Good said. “So it’s hard to play our little bit of small ball — get a guy on, get him over, get him in.”

Connor Harmeling and Cooper Zunis each doubled, and Wood singled for Western Reserve (9-13).

Good reflected on the successes of the season despite the loss. His team won only four games a year ago.

“We just told the guys it gets harder the longer you last,” Good said. “But from a team standpoint of buying in and accountability is what we stressed all year long.

“To be able to play for a district championship is a great season,” he added.

“Our goal was to finish in the top half of the league, and we didn’t attain that,” Oliver said. “I told the boys, if we have a good tournament run, no one is going remember how the standings ended up.”

Box score

Colonel Crawford    502 000 0       7       7       0

Western Reserve     000 100 0       1       3       3

WP: Parker Weithman (10 SO, 4 W)

LP: Landyn Wiegel (0 SO, 0 W)

HR: None.

Triples: None.

Doubles: (CC) Deagan Moore; (WR) Connor Harmeling, Cooper Zunis.

Multiple hits: (CC) Deagan Moore, Van Wintersteller.

Records: Colonel Crawford 13-13; Western Reserve 9-13.

Next: Colonel Crawford vs. Evergreen, Division VI regional semifinal at Patrick Henry High School, Wednesday; Western Reserve season over.