The Niles softball team probably got started hitting Lakeshore pitcher Megan Hiler a few innings too late.

The result was another Division 2 District title for the defending state champions.

The Lancers (30-9-1) defeated the Vikings (15-16) 4-1 in the championship game on Saturday at Dowagiac.

The Lancers advanced to the finals with a 7-3 win over the host Chieftains, while the Vikings needed just three innings to dispatch Benton Harbor 15-0.

Lakeshore scored a run in the first and two runs in the third to open up a 3-0 lead on Niles, which had trouble hitting Hiler.

Heather Gusse drove in a run with a double in the first inning and another run with a single in the third inning before Haley Thibeault crushed a Molly VanDeKeere offering onto the street behind the outfield fence for a solo home run.

Lakeshore’s final run came in the sixth inning on a bunt single by Kaitlin Cornwell.

Niles finally got to Hiler in the top of the seventh as back-to-back doubles by Sarah Cramer and Hannah Portfield averted a shutout for the Vikings.

“We played pretty well,” Niles coach Gary Collins said. “We just didn’t hit Hiler soon enough.”

Benton Harbor…0

Niles…15

The Vikings scored seven runs in the first inning and then four in the second and third to rout the Tigers for the third time this season.

Niles got a triple and a double from senior Charissa Spear, while Tala Gentry, Cramer and Olivia Jordan also doubled.

VanDeKeere tossed a three-hitter to earn the victory.

Dowagiac…3

Lakeshore…7

The Chieftains had some chances to get on the board early, but could not capitalize.

The game was tied at 0-0 through the first four innings before Lakeshore scored six times in the fifth inning to take command of the contest.

Kelly Vigansky drove in a pair of runs with a single for the Lancers, who also got a run-scoring single by Alex Forsythe, a sacrifice fly by Gusse, a bases-loaded walk to Jordan Wasserman and a wild pitch.

Dowagiac scored twice in the sixth on a two-run single by losing pitcher Tara Sova and an RBI single by Devon Ownby in the seventh.

Hiler picked up the victory in relief of starter Maggie Hildebrand.

The Chieftains (19-14) actually out-hit Lakeshore 8-7 with Rachel Bailey, Miranda East, Kiele Belew and Katie Lorenz all collecting doubles.

Division 2 District softball

Championship

Niles 000 000 1 – 1 3 1

Lakeshore 102 001 x – 4 8 0

Molly VanDeKeere (L, 15-15) and Hannah Porterfield; Megan Hiler (W, 15-3) and Savannah Kennedy.

2B: Sarah Cramer (N), Porterfield (N), Heather Gusse (L), Alex Forsythe (L).

HR: Haley Thibeault (L).

Records: Niles 15-16, Lakeshore 30-9-1

Semifinals

Benton Harbor 000 – 0 1 7

Niles 744 – 15 9 0

Kayla Dumas (L) and Tatiana Spears; Molly VanDeKeere (W, 15-14) and Sophie Nielsen.

2B: Spears (B), Tala Gentry (N), Sarah Cramer (N), Olivia Jordan (N), Nielsen (N).

3B: Charissa Spear (N).

Records: Benton Harbor 2-14

Dowagiac 000 002 1 – 3 8 0

Lakeshore 000 061 x – 7 7 0

Tara Sova (L, 10-7), Miranda East (5) and Devon Ownby; Maggie Hildebrand, Megan Hiler (5-W, 14-3), Hildebrand (6), Hiler (6) and Savannah Kennedy.

2B: Rachel Bailey (D), East (D), Kiele Belew (D), Katie Lorenz (D), Alex Forsythe (L).

Records: Dowagiac 19-14