Two teams left to cheer
Published 5:29 pm Monday, June 19, 2006
By Staff
The second weekend of the state baseball and softball tournaments is upon us and we have just two local teams remaining.
Both will be competing in the softball tournament. All of “our” baseball teams were eliminated last weekend at the district level.
Dowagiac faces arch rival Lakeshore in Division 2 in Battle Creek, while Buchanan travels to Gobles to take on Watervliet in Division 3.
We congratulate both teams on tremendous seasons.
The Chieftains (31-3) have been ranked at or near the top of the Division 2 ratings all season.
Dowagiac won its second straight district championship last weekend and looks poised to make it two in a row at the regional level.
Standing in front of them, of course, is a familiar foe in Lakeshore.
Dowagiac and Lakeshore (33-5) have been battling for the right to advance in the state tournament for decades.
The two schools usually meet at the district level. The Michigan High School Athletic Association moved Dowagiac to a new district this year, however.
The Chieftains had to wait a week, but are ready to see their old nemesis once again.
Dowagiac and Lakeshore play at 10 a.m., with the winner advancing to the finals at 3 p.m. at Battle Creek Lakeview High School.
Gull Lake and Vicksburg meet in the other semifinal at 12:30 p.m.
Buchanan broke Brandywine's hold on the Division 3 district championship and now the Lady Bucks are looking for more.
Buchanan (29-9) has been down for the past couple of seasons, but came back with a vengeance this year.
The Lady Bucks, ranked No. 9 in the latest Division 3 poll, face a Watervliet squad which, despite a solid 30-2 record, is not ranked.
Buchanan and the Lady Panthers meet at 10 a.m., with the winner moving on to the title tilt at 3 p.m.
In the other semifinal match-up, Schoolcraft faces Parchment. Good luck to both teams trying advance to the next round of the state tournament. We know the Lady Bucks and the Chieftains will be giving it everything they have on Saturday. Win or lose, both can walk away from this season knowing they accomplished some pretty special things.