By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
STEVENSVILLE - For six innings the Niles softball team game defending state champion Lakeshore all it wanted in the Division 2 district semifinals on Saturday.
Lakeshore (31-7) led just 1-0 heading into the seventh inning where it exploded to four runs en route to the 5-0 victory.
In the second semifinal Dowagiac blanked Edwardsburg 4-0 to advance to the championship game.
Dowagiac (32-4) went on to defeat Lakeshore 4-3 in the championship game, which went 13 innings.
The Lady Lancers opened the scoring in the first inning when Monica Gathright singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on an error.
The score remained that way until the seventh inning when Ashley Brown and Gathright both delivered RBI singles and scored on single by Jaci Sandberg.
The Lady Vikings (11-24) had their best scoring opportunity in the fourth inning when Kayla Gross walked and stole second. A dropped third strike put runners at first and second for the Lady Vikings with one out, however, Lakeshore pitcher Lauren Castonguay struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
Caustonguay tossed a no-hitter at Niles.
Lakeshore finished with seven hits, including doubles by Amanda Harrington and Stacey Jones.
Julie Kater (7-16) took the loss for the Lady Vikings.
Lakeshore 100 000 4 - 5 7 0
Niles 000 000 0 - 0 0 2
Castonguay (W); Julie Kater (L)
2B: Amanda Harrington (L), Stacey Jones (L)
Varsity records: Niles 11-24, Lakeshore 31-7