By SCOTT NOVAK
Niles Daily Star

STEVENSVILLE – A pair of runs in the sixth inning led host Lakeshore to a 5-3 Division 2 District baseball victory over pesky Edwardsburg Saturday morning.

The second game between Niles and defending champion St. Joseph was rained out and will be made up today beginning at 3 p.m. The championship game will follow.

The Eddies (17-13) led the semifinal contest into the fifth inning after scoring a pair of first inning runs.

The Lancers (22-10) cut the lead to 2-1 in the third inning and after Edwardsburg increased its advantage to 3-1, a pair of runs in the fifth knotted the score and set up the sixth inning dramatics.

In the fifth, Johnny Nate drove in a run with a single and Zane Metz’s groundout plated the tying run.

In the sixth, Brett Buckley delivered a two-run single.

Edwardsburg didn’t help itself out in the contest as it stranded eight runners and committed four errors.

The Eddies outhit Lakeshore 8-6, as Zach Thompson and Taylor Coquillard each had two hits.

Evan Zimmerman took the loss for Edwardsburg as he worked the first five-plus innings before giving way to Thompson.

The Eddies finish the year 17-13.

The Lancers’ Mikey Melcher picked up the victory.

Edwardsburg 200 010 0 – 3 8 4
Lakeshore 001 022 x – 5 6 1
Mike Melcher (W) and Adam Miller
Evan Zimmerman (L), Zach Thompson (6) and Wade Smous
2B: Thompson (E)
Varsity records: Edwardsburg 17-13, Lakeshore 22-10

Division 3
BERRIEN SPRINGS – The Buchanan baseball team captured its first district championship since 1999 as it defeated host Berrien Springs 9-4 in Division 3.

The Bucks (20-10-1) advance to the regional semifinals in Schoolcraft against Constantine on Saturday.

The Bucks reached the title game with a 10-0 victory over Cassopolis.

Buchanan scored seven runs in the second inning and added three more in the third frame to open up the 10-0 advantage.

Only one of the runs in the second inning was earned as Cassopolis committed three errors.

The Rangers (15-16-1) managed just two hit off of the Bucks’ Bryan Kuntz and David Sokolowski. The pair combined for nine strikeouts.

Kevin Hatcher, Dwayne Morgan and Nate Blad all hit the mound for Cassopolis.

Brandon Jackson had two hits for the Bucks, while Tyler Powers had a two-run single.

Buchanan 073 00 – 10 6 1
Cassopolis 000 00 – 0 2 3
Bryan Kuntz (W), David Sokolowski (3) and Brandon Jackson
Kevin Hatcher (L), Dwayne Morgan (2), Nate Blad (5) and Blad, Devin Roberts (5).
Varsity records: Buchanan 20-10-1, Cassopolis 15-16-1