By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
STEVENSVILLE - A three-run first inning spelled the beginning of the end for the Niles baseball team Saturday afternoon in the Division 2 baseball tournament at Lakeshore High School.
The Lancers (20-13) held off a late Niles rally to advance to the championship game against arch rival St. Joseph.
The Bears reached the title game with a 4-3 victory over Edwardsburg in the first semifinal.
St. Joseph (32-6) went on to win the Division 2 district championship with a 3-1 victory over the Lancers.
Home runs provided all but one of the runs in the second semifinal game on Saturday.
The Lancers grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Mike Dalrymple singled and scored on a two-run home run by Tim Frakes.
Lakeshore made it 3-0 later in the inning when Kevin Berry doubles off of Niles' Matt Richardson and advanced to third on a single by Tyler Blosser.
Berry scored on a fielder's choice.
The score remained 3-0 until the top of the seventh when Niles scored its two runs on a home run by Richardson.
The Vikings (23-10) outhit Lakeshore 9-6, but were unable to overcome the early deficit.
Rick Storm had three of those hits.
Richardson (6-2) struck out seven and allowed six hits.
Blosser (6-4) picked up the victory for the Lancers as he struck out eight.
Niles 000 000 2 - 2 9 1
Lakeshore 300 000 x - 3 6 0
Tyler Blosser (W, 6-4); Matt Richardson (L, 6-2)
HR: Frakes (L), Richardson (N).
2B: Justin Gerschoffer (L), Kevin Berry (L).
Varsity Records: Lakeshore 20-13, Niles 23-10