GALION — The Lady Warriors are going to a familiar place. But it wasn’t a cakewalk to get there.

Mohawk survived an early 5-1 deficit and defeated Plymouth 11-6 Thursday at Heise Park in the Division IV district finals. The Lady Warriors take on either Lincolnview (21-4) or Fort Recovery (13-8) in a regional semifinal at 5 p.m. next Wednesday at Clyde High School.

“I’m really proud of my teammates. We really jelled together today. Being down in the first inning like that. It takes a lot to come back,” said shortstop Tori Phillips.

The Lady Big Red scored twice on two hits in the first inning and added three more in the second for a 5-1 lead.

“We’re staying positive with everybody,” Phillips said. “We know we have to pick each other up because errors and bad at-bats are inevitable. We just have to pick it up and keep going forward.”

Pitcher Makenzie Back laced a triple to left to start the scoring for Plymouth. A double by Chloe Trine and a fielding error in the outfield made it a 2-0 game.

Mohawk (20-4) head coach Mindy Walton said her team can’t afford many more slow starts. They relied on some small ball to get the victory.

“I kind of replayed Crawford in my head. I thought we are going to go into this and get people on base. That worked for us last time so why not try it again,” she said.

“They kind of fumbled around with the bunts there and were making errors.”

Bailey Sheets settled down after that and gave up six hits, striking out six and walking four. The team regained its composure.

“We actually talked about that tonight in the circle out there. Bailey said it, ‘Guys, we have to start in the first inning. We can’t wait until the third inning because when we get farther into this it’s not going to work anymore’ … and that’s exactly right.”

Sheets didn’t allow a base hit after the third inning.

“I’m proud of her for taking that leadership role there and just telling them we gotta do this or we’re going to be done.”

When they got going the Lady Warriors hammered the ball to the tune of 12 hits off Back, who struck out six and walked two. After scoring two in the third, they added six in the fourth to take a 9-5 lead.

Catcher Lauren Moyer, who bats lead-off, had a bunt single, followed by a Sheets triple.

Several Plymouth errors helped Mohawk in the sixth inning. Brooklen Helton had a single and Aley Schock a triple to ignite the rally.

Plymouth (12-10) head coach Byron Bailey said mistakes hurt his team.

“We had some pretty big errors. We gave up six runs all off errors and you can’t beat a team in the district finals. We came out on fire, and we fell on our nose.”

The bunt coverage has kept his club in previous games.

“I don’t know what it was; if they expected other people to make the play. Errors and walks, you’re not going to win many games,” Bailey said.

“We either didn’t make solid contact or hit it right at somebody. Sheets gets stronger as the day goes on. She’s a special athlete and I hope they make a run.”

She only faced 16 Plymouth batters in the final four innings.

Returning to the regional tournament was a goal for Mohawk.

“The top of the lineup was not being able to hit right at the beginning,” Moyer said.

“Then we got each other pumped up and made the contact that we needed to get the team rolling. Tomorrow we’ll have another focused practice and play Carey with the same energy we had tonight and the following Wednesday at a regional semi.”

A win over Carey would tie Mohawk with Colonel Crawford for the Northern 10 Athletic Conference title with identical 12-2 records.

Walton said her four seniors had several goals coming into the season.

“First, was to be at the top of our league. Then to make it to regionals and get out of regionals. Seniors have been here last year. We made it to the regional semi, but we didn’t make it past that point.”

The four seniors are Moyer, Phillips, Kendal Bailey, and Mya Mattox.

“I know they’re hungry for this and hungry to make it further than they did last year. I’m super proud of them,” Walton said.

“They’ve really put it together in the last half of the season and have shown some great leadership — not only on the field but off the field as well. Getting the girls up and ready for games and just being the senior leaders that I expect from them.”

Box score

Plymouth   230 001 0          6        5        4

Mohawk      102 620 X        11      12       2

WP: Bailey Sheets (5 SO, 4 W)

LP: Makenzie Back (6 SO, 2 W)

HR: None.

Triples: (P) Makenzie Back; (M) Bailey Sheets, Aley Schock.

Doubles: (P) Chloe Trine, Bree Fellows; (M) Tori Phillips, Alysen Young, Josie Granata.

Multiple hits: (P) Chloe Trine; (M) Bailey Sheets 3 Brooklen Helton, Tori Phillips, Lauren Moyer.

Records: Plymouth 12-10; Mohawk 20-4.

Next: Plymouth season over; Carey at Mohawk, Saturday.