Brandywine’s Stuart Pearman returns a shot at the Division 4 regional on Thursday at Leeper Park. The Bobcats tied for seventh place. Kalamazoo Christian was the regional champion. (Daily Star photo/SCOTT NOVAK)

By SCOTT NOVAK

Niles Daily Star

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Kalamazoo Christian captured the Division 4 Regional Tennis championship Thursday evening at Leeper Park.

The Comets finished with 20 points to edge runner-up Bridgman, which finished with 18points.

No other team qualified for the state finals. The top two finishers, plus any team that scores 18 or more points advances to the state tournament.

Buchanan and Berrien Springs tied for third with 16 points, while Brandywine tied for seventh with five points and Dowagiac placed ninth with a single point.

The Chieftains’ lone point of the tournament came at No. 3 doubles where Ben Thompson and Marc Tyrakowski defeated Coloma’s Brandon Yenchus and Zach Trousdale 6-1 and 6-1.

The Bobcats earned points at No. 2 singles where Buck Bourdon defeated Dowagiac’s Michael McClenahan 6-4 and 6-1; at No. 3 singles where Michael Robins defeated Dowagiac’s Amarpal Sarao 6-2 and 6-1; No. 1 doubles where Josh Boger and Brad Millin defeated Coloma’s Alex Engel and Chris Deford 6-1 and 6-0; and at No. 3 doubles where Stuart Pearman and Jordan Hopper defeated Coloma (N/A) and then knocked off No. 2 seeded Bridgman (Zach Bauer and Chad Starbuck) 6-1, 7-6(4).

Buchanan had one regional champion as its No. 1 doubles team of Ryan Henckel and Jake Welsh defeated Bridgman’s Josiah Badger and Joseph Koehler 3-6, 7-6(5) and 6-2 to claim the title.

Division 4 Regional

Tennis Tournament

At Leeper Park, South Bend, Ind.

Team scores

Kalamazoo Christian 20, Bridgman 18, Buchanan 16, Berrien Springs 16, Kalamazoo Hackett 14, Paw Paw 6, Brandywine 5, South Haven 5, Dowagiac 1, Coloma 0

Singles

1. Tim Spitzer (HCC) d. David Hauck (BR) 6-2, 7-5; 2. Brad Plaisier (KC) d. Danny Moyer (HCC) 6-3, 7-5; 3. Nate Pagel (BS) d. Alec Rosenbaum (KC) 6-2, 2-6, 6-3; 4. Dan Stevens (KC) d. Amir Benjelloun (BS) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles

1. Ryan Henckel-Jake Welsh (BU) d. Josiah Badger-Joseph Koehler (BR) 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-1; 2. Sammy Higgin-Adam Klug (BR) d. Alex Kuhn-Corey Thompson (BU) 6-0, 6-2; 3. John Holland-Will Harbert (KC) d. Josh Watson-Agape Mpamira (BU) 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4; 4. Brandon Mensinger-Dominic Milano (BR) d. Jake Hartman-Juan Carlos Sanchez 7-5, 7-6