The Brandywine softball team will have to figure out how to beat arch-rival Buchanan if it wants to successfully defend its Division 3 District championship.

The Bobcats were swept by the Bucks in the Lakeland Conference championship game — 6-5 and 11-0.

Veteran Brandywine coach Angela Mellott said a quick start will be important.

“What we need to do is play our game,” she said. “Play hard and work together as a team. Getting our bats started early will set the tone for the day for us. Having three pitchers ready to throw at any given time will also benefit us.

“Buchanan is a tough team and we have shown that we can beat competitive teams like Buchanan and we are ready to show it. Our team is ready for the post season and wants to get back to regionals.”

Kelly Harper is 15-8 in the circle for the Bobcats this season with an ERA of 3.59 and 83 strikeouts. Morgan Crocker and Destiny Bennett are the other two pitchers for Brandywine.

Harper also leads the team offensively with a batting average of .515. She had eight doubles, two triples, a home run and 43 RBIs. Michaela Hartline is hitting .510 for the Bobcats with seven doubles, one triple, nine home runs and a team-high 54 RBIs. Her sister Makenna is hitting .464 with eight doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 47 RBIs.

As if that wasn’t enough offense, Brandywine’s Aryalynn Lasane is hitting .413 with eight doubles, two triples, three home runs and 26 RBIs.

The Bobcats (20-13) and Bucks (25-6) play the second semifinal at approximately noon Saturday in Coloma.

The first game, at 10 a.m., pits Coloma against Berrien Springs.

Brandywine has faced the Comets twice this season, falling both times. The first meeting was April 12 and Coloma posted a 17-4 victory. The second meeting was April 26 with the Comets edging the Bobcats 5-3.

“I think Coloma will come out of the other side of the bracket,” Mellott said. “We have played Coloma twice and the second time we played, we had solid defense and put the ball in play.

“All I can ask of my team is to work hard, play with confidence and show what Brandywine softball is capable of. We are looking forward to good quality softball on Saturday.”

Buchanan won 22 consecutive games between April 12 and May 20, but the Bucks have lost three of their last four contests.

Buchanan dropped a pair of one-run games to the Comets to open the season.