By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
BERRIEN SPRINGS - Brandywine's bid for their second straight district championship came up two runs short on Saturday at the Division 3 district tournament at Berrien Springs.
River Valley's Quinn Watkins held the Bobcats to just three hits as the Mustangs held on for a 2-1 win.
Last year the Bobcats sent the Mustangs home after a 11-1 loss, this year it was the Mustangs turn to turn the tables and continue their season into the regional's next week at Constantine High School.
Brandywine took the early lead in the second inning as Josh Atwood singled and moved to third on an error. Atwood scored the Bobcats only run of the game on a double play ball.
River Valley scored in the top half of the third after Watkins reached on a base hit and scored after a sacrifice moved him to second and a RBI single by Keith Zabel.
The Mustangs scored the eventual game winning run in the fourth. A double by Jeremy Schaeffer and a sacrifice fly by Brandon Vance to score Schaeffer was all the Mustangs needed for the win as Watkins shut down the Bobcats the rest of the way.
Zach Bennett picked up the loss as the Bobcats close out their season with a 19-20 record.
In the opening game Brandywine advanced to the championship game with a 3-1 victory over Berrien Springs (25-5).
Kory Bridges earned the win giving up only three hits to the Shamrocks. Kolby Wood was tagged with the loss.
River Valley stopped Buchanan 5-1 in the second contest of the day with Bobby Schiller pitching a one hitter to advance the Mustangs to the championship game. Jeremy Lucas picked up the loss for the Bucks who finish the season at 13-21.
Championship game
Brandywine 010 000 0 - 1 3 0
River Valley 001 100 x - 2 6 1
Zach Bennett (L); Quinn Watkins (W)
2B: Adam Hawkins (B), Jeremy Schaeffer (RV)
Varsity records: Brandywine 19-20, River Valley 22-11
Semifinals
Brandywine 020 000 1 - 3 6 0
Berrien Springs 001 000 0 - 1 3 2
Kory Bridges (W); Kolby Wood (L)
Varsity record: Berrien Springs 25-5
Semifinals
River Valley 010 301 0 - 5 7 0
Buchanan 000 100 0 - 1 1 2
Bobby Schiller (W); Jeremy Lucas (L)
2B: Quinn Watkins (RV)
Varsity record: Buchanan 13-21