The Division 2 softball district in southwest lower Michigan is traditionally one of the toughest to win in the entire state.

That will not change this Saturday when Edwardsburg, Niles and Paw Paw descend on Dowagiac.

The Eddies will come in as the favorites having set a school record for wins with a 30-5 mark.

The defending district champions will take on the team it defeated for the title last June, Dowagiac, in the second game of the doubleheader at approximately 12:30 p.m.

Niles and Paw Paw will get the semifinals started at 10 a.m. The championship game is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Edwardsburg coach Randy Brooks, who began his coaching career at Dowagiac, surpassed 700 career victories this season, which included a sweep of the Chieftains in April.

But Brooks does not care if his team has defeated the other three teams in the district.

“I don’t think it matters what you did in the regular season,” he said. “We have won doubleheaders against the other teams in the district and we have played a tough schedule. What you have to do is show up and make plays on Saturday. The team that does that will move on to regionals.”

The Eddies are led offensively by Layne Stinnett (.500, 12 doubles, 11 home runs, 52 RBIs), Ali Strycker (.480 and four doubles) and Hannah Shoupe (.427 and 12 doubles).

Strycker is also the Eddies’ No. 1 pitcher having fashioned a 16-3 record this season with an ERA of 1.073. She has struck out 126 batters in 104 innings pitched with only 26 walks.

Dowagiac is coming off a split with St. Joseph Tuesday.

The Bears are the favorite to win the district they are hosting.

St. Joseph won the first game 6-0, but the Chieftains rebounded to take the nightcap 3-1.

Dowagiac is 29-9 heading into the semifinals after finishing fourth in the Wolverine Conference behind champion Vicksburg, Edwardsburg and South Haven.

The Chieftains are led by Megan Soderbloom (.531, eight home runs, 53 RBIs), Amiyah Smith (.496, 51 runs scored), Taylor Hulett (.492, four home runs, 49 RBIs), Marissa Dodd (.480, 51 runs scored) and Mickie Kiggins (.462, 34 RBIs).

Soderbloom’s eight home runs in a new single season record for Dowagiac.

“To win districts, we are going to have to play pretty flawless defense against Edwardsburg,” said Dowagiac coach Mike Behnke, who was an assistant under Brooks. “We gave them too many extra outs during the season when we played. We will need to get good pitching from Taylor and some timely hits with people on base.”

Hulett will have to carry the pitching load on Saturday. She is 20-7 on the season with an ERA of under 2.0 with 187 strikeouts in 142 innings.

The Vikings (9-26) have gotten hot of late and could play the role of the darkhorse this weekend.

Niles is led by Brooke Timm, Addison Davies, Tegan Bays and Caitlin Daly on offense.

Timm is also the top pitcher for the Vikings.

“We are going to have to hit the ball a lot better than we have all year,” Niles coach Rick McKeel said. “Solid defense and good pitching and most importantly from our kids is belief, belief that they can do this. We’re playing pretty well right now and I believe anything can happen on any given day.”

Paw Paw is coming off an up and down year.

The Redskins, who are coached by former Dowagiac standout Brittany Reist, are led offensively by Broke VanTilburg (.417), Anna Castelluccio (.367), Grace Sylvester (.330) and Kinsey Carr (.342).

VanTilburg is also the No. 1 pitcher with a 112 strikeouts.

“We as a team are going to have to hit the ball and allow the least amount of hits given,” Reist said. “We need to score runners when they are scoring position. We have to be fearless and attack the ball offensively and defensively.”

Both McKeel and Reist feel that Edwardsburg is the team to beat Saturday.