BLOOMINGDALE — Chad Adkerson tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Darren Shearer in the ninth inning to lift the Buchanan Bucks to a 2-1 win over Grand Rapids West Catholic in the Division 3 regional championship game at Bloomingdale Saturday.

The win gave the Bucks (22-7) their first regional championship in 16 years. Buchanan will face No. 8-ranked Lansing Catholic at 5 p.m. in the state quarterfinals at Davenport University Tuesday.

Buchanan reached the title game with a 3-0 win over Saugatuck.

The championship game featured a pair of great pitching performances as West Catholic’s Gaetano Vallone allowed five hits and struck out 13.

The Bucks’ Jarrett Thomas was equally as impressive as he allowed one run on five hits with seven strikeouts.

Bryce Vineyard had two of Buchanan’s five hits.

In the semifinals, Dalton Riddle worked the first four innings allowing just one hit. Kyle Leazenby came on in the fifth, allowing two hits and protecting the shutout victory.

The Bucks were held to just three hits by Blake Dunn. Vineyard, Adkerson and Shearer all had singles for Buchanan.

 

Division 3 Regional Baseball

At Bloomingdale

Championship Game

BUCHANAN 2, WEST CATHOLIC 1

Buchanan        001     000     001 – 2 5 1

W. Catholic     010     000     000 – 1 5 1

Jarrett Thomas (W); Gaetano Vallone (L)

3B: Chad Adkerson (B)

Varsity record: Buchanan 22-7

 

Semifinal

BUCHANAN 3, SAUGATUCK 0

Saugatuck      000     000     000 – 0 3 0

Buchanan       030     000     x – 3 3 0

Dalton Riddle, Kyle Leazenby (W, 5); Blake Dunn (L)