By SCOTT NOVAK
Niles Daily Star

STEVENSVILLE – Missed opportunities in the first couple innings may have the Edwardsburg softball team a shot at upsetting No. 2-ranked Lakeshore in the Division 2 semifinals on Monday afternoon.

The Eddies had runners in scoring position in three out of the first four innings, but came away without a runner crossing the plate.

The Lancers had a hit in each of the first two innings, but didn’t do much with them.

However, in the third inning, Lakeshore exploded for four runs and put itself in the driver’s seat.

An error on a ball hit by Megan Hiler started the trouble for the Eddies.

The Lancers went to their short game, bunting Hiler into scoring position and then bunting for a base hit that left Lakeshore with runners at second and third.

Edwardsburg pitcher Ashley Tackett then hit Heather Gusse to load the base for Jordan Wassterman, who delivered a two-run single.

An error on the play moved the runners up to second and third for Rachel Zwar, who grounded out to the Edwardsburg third baseman, who never even looked at the runner racing home with the game’s third run.

An error on a ball hit to third by Maggie Hildebrand drove in the fourth run of the game.
Lakeshore threatened again in the fourth inning with runners at second and third, but a ground out kept the Eddies within striking distance.

The Lancers made it 5-0 in the top of the fifth as Hildebrand grounded out to score Wasserman, who had singled and advanced to second on an error before being sacrificed over by Zwar.

The Lakeshore pitchers then shut the door on the Eddies as Hildebrand fanned the side in the bottom half of the fifth and when Hiler took over in the sixth, the strikeout string had reached five straight. In fact, the Eddies went down in order the final three innings.

The Lancers finished with nine hits, of which, five came off of bunts.

Edwardsburg finished with just three hits.

Hildebrand picked up the win, while Ashley Tackett took the loss for the Eddies.

The Lancers edged the Bears for the title 2-1.

Lakeshore 004 010 0 – 5 9 1
Edwardsburg 000 000 0 – 0 3 3
Maggie Hildebrand (W), Megan Hiler (6) and Savannah Kennedy
Ashley Tackett (L) and Deb Burton
2B: Victoria Hurst (E)