The same four teams that squared off in the Division 2 District Baseball Tournament will meet up again in Niles on Saturday.

Host Niles will face Dowagiac in the first semifinal at 10 a..m., while Edwardsburg will face Paw Paw at approximately 12:30 p.m. The winners will meet for the Division 2 District title at approximately 3 p.m.

In 2014, Niles defeated Dowagiac 8-5, while Edwardsburg beat Paw Paw 9-3.

It took 13 innings to decide the championship with Niles rallying from a 5-0 deficit to win 6-5.

It was the Vikings’ first district championship since 2011.

 

Niles vs. Dowagiac

Niles (24-12) will not overlook a Dowagiac team that enters the postseason with only a handful of victories.

“We have to win the first game and cannot look ahead,” Niles coach Mike Vota said. “We have to play the defense we have been playing, pitch to contact, eliminate freebies and hit. We need to play our best baseball of the year on Saturday.

“We will spend the week preparing for what we think we will see. Districts are always a different bear and level of intensity. We must be prepared for this as a team.”

Offensively the Vikings are led by Drew Huffman, who hit .341 with five doubles, four triples and 17 RBIs. Wyatt Thornton hit .340 with 26 RBIs, while Jordan Ham, Chris Frantz and Bryce Lake all hit .327 with a combined 50 RBIs, seven triples and 17 doubles.

On the mounds Niles will have Austin Lintz, who was 5-0 with an ERA of 0.79 with 20 strikeouts and Jacob Hamm, who was 5-2 with an ERA of 0.96 with 25 strikeouts and two saves.

Dowagiac comes into the district tournament with a 6-23-1 record.

The Chieftains are led offensively by Matt Smith, who is hitting .403 with 12 RBIs, and Eric Walker, who is hitting .348.

Mason Hojara, who is hitting .301 with 10 RBIs and 10 stolen bases, is also one of the Chieftains’ top pitchers.

He is 1-2 on the year with an ERA of 4.64 with 17 strikeouts.

Daquan Brooks is 3-5 on the year with an ERA of 4.79 with a team-high 45.33 innings and 33 strikeouts.

Nick Foote has appeared in 10 games and has an ERA of 4.75 with nine strikeouts. Foote has not figured in a decision this season.

“Two keys to defeating Niles will be hit consistently well up and down the lineup, adding runs throughout the game and also limiting their big scoring innings,” Dowagiac coach Dan Schuchardt said. “With timely hits and consistent defense anyone in the district has a chance to win.”

 

Edwardsburg vs. Paw Paw

The Eddies are fresh from winning the Wolverine Conference championship.

Edwardsburg enters the tournament with a 20-9 overall record.

Dalton Raymond and Joe Raab have combined for a 12-0 record on the hill for the Eddies.

Raab is 7-0 with an ERA of 0.48 and 63 strikeouts. Raymond is 5-0 with an ERA of 1.12 with 55 strikeouts.

Offensively for Edwardsburg, Jesse Reinebold leads the way with an average of .415 and 21 RBIs. Raymond is hitting .395 with a team-high 36 RBIs, while Damion Pompey is hitting .360 with 19 RBIs.

“We need great pitching and defense to go along with timely hitting to beat Paw Paw in the semifinals,” Edwardsburg coach A.J. Gaideski said. “If we are lucky enough to win the semifinals, it will take more of the same to win the district championship.

“All the teams in the district can win. We play in a tough district with a lot of good teams and players. It will be a matter of who plays the best that day.”

Paw Paw (17-12) is led by Parker Marcon, who is hitting .454 with 11 doubles, six triples and 32 RBIs.

Jack Pelletier is hitting .337 with 19 RBIs.

Jeff Burch led the Redskins’ pitchers with a 5-1 record with 67 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.79. Pelletier was 4-2 on the hill with 45 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.51.

“One key to winning our game will be timely hitting,” Paw Paw coach Derek Vanderburg said. “There is great pitching in this district. I believe Edwardsburg and Niles are the teams to beat. They are two great coached and fundamental teams.”