By By ERIKA PICKLES and SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
BERRIEN SPRINGS – It only took four runs for Kalamazoo Christian to end the Buchanan softball team's season Saturday at the Division 3 regional tournament in Berrien Springs.
In the second semifinal game of the day, the Comets posted a 4-0 victory over the Lady Bucks, ending their season with a 23-13 record.
Kalamazoo Christian advanced to the finals against Cassopolis, who won its game against Gobles, 7-4.
Emily Corstange took the win in the circle for the Comets, while Ashley Pointer suffered the loss. Pointer is the only senior to graduate from this year's squad.
Top hitters for the Bucks were Kayla Nelson with a double. Stephanie Hatfield had a double and a triple for the Comets.
Cassopolis vs. Kalamazoo Christian
The dreams of a Division 3 regional softball championship for the Cassopolis Rangers came up a run short on Saturday afternoon.
The Lady Rangers dropped a 1-0 decision to perennial Division 3 powerhouse Kalamazoo Christian in the title game at Berrien Springs High School.
The Lady Comets scored in the top of the seventh and then held off Cassopolis' attempt to tie the game in the bottom of the inning.
Cassopolis played its best game of the season against Kalamazoo Christian, but couldn't mount any offense against veteran Lady Comets hurler Emily Corstange, who tossed a two-hitter.
The Lady Rangers' Symone Pompey, just a junior, was equally as impressive as she scattered six hits and struck out eight.
In the end, however, it was the pitching of Corstange, who had a perfect game going into the bottom of the seventh, and a timely hit that ended Cassopolis' season.
Kalamazoo Christian scored its run on a singled by Chelsea Brussee, who was replaced by pinch runner Veronica Kincaid. Kincaid advanced to third on a single by pinch hitter Betsy Balkema.
Kincaid scored when pinch hitter Lindsay Gove bunted out in front of home plate.
Cassopolis…7
Gobles…4
The Lady Rangers built up a 7-1 lead on Gobles before the Lady Tigers scored late to make the score a bit more respectable.
Vlasiak had three of Cassopolis' 11 hits. Emily Phillips, Branna Wyant and Becky File each had a pair of hits for the Lady Rangers.
File and Wyant both drove in two runs.
Semifinals
Cassopolis 201 040 0 – 7 11 4
Gobles 100 001 2 – 4 6 5
WP – Symone Pompey (C)
LP – Caitlin Killeen (G)
2B: Samantha Vlasiak (C), Erica Keeley (G)
Record: Gobles 20-14
Championship
Kalamazoo Christian 000 000 1 – 1 6 1
Cassopolis 000 000 0 – 0 2 0
WP – Emily Corstange (KC)
LP – Symone Pompey (C)
Records: Kalamazoo Christian 27-13, Cassopolis 29-10