Arch rivals will square off in Berrien Springs with a spot in the Division 3 district finals on the line Saturday.

Buchanan (18-8) advanced to the semifinals against Brandywine (23-13) with a 4-0 win over host Berrien Springs in the pre-district contest Tuesday.

Jarrett Thomas tossed a two-hitter with nine strikeouts for the Bucks, who take on the Bobcats in the second semifinal at 12:30 p.m. Saturday,

The winner advances to face either Bridgman or Constantine, who play the 10 a.m. game Saturday.

The championship game is scheduled for 3 p.m.

While Buchanan had just seven hits in its win Tuesday, coach Lonnie Hoover feels his team is coming around offensively at the right time.

“We have to continue to hit like the last week of the regular season,” he said. “Our defense and pitching has been strong all year and will carry through tight games.”

The Bucks reached the Division 3 state championship game last year before falling and Hoover feels that experience is important heading into this year’s tournament.

“I feel like we are the favorites,” he said about the Berrien Springs district. “We have a lot of experience in big games after last year’s tourney run and I believe that experience will help us.”

Buchanan is led offensively by Bryce Vineyard, Chad Adkerson Dalton Riddle, Darren Shearer and Kyle Leazenby.

Against the Shamrocks in the pre-district, Christian Hall doubled and drove in a pair of runs.

Leazenby and Alex Lindamood join Thomas as the Bucks’ top pitchers.

Brandywine, which was swept by the Bucks during the regular season, will bring a 23-13 record into Saturday’s semifinal.

Veteran Bobcats’ coach David Sidenbender agrees that Buchanan should be considered the favorite.

“I think the defending champ is always the favorite when they return 99 percent of their team,” he said. “But this district is and has always been so tough, one of the toughest in the state in our division. There are probably three or four teams that could win it and it wouldn’t be that much of an upset.”

Brandywine is led offensively by Hunter Janowiak, who is hitting .426, Coles Searles (.349), Joe Covyeou (.352), Brady Duval .337) and Zach Grishaber (.325).

On the mound, Toby Fox is 8-5 with an ERA of 1.53. Mark Conrad is 5-6 (1.41) and Covyeou 3-0 (0.45).

“We need to through strikes, make plays and have quality at-bats,” Sidenbender said. “I feel with our conference and non-conference schedule being so tough, we know who we are and should be ready for the tourney.”

 

DIVISION 3 PRE-DISTRICT

At Berrien Springs

Buchanan      012      001      0 – 4 7 0

Berrien                      000      000      0 – 0 2 0

Jarrett Thomas (W); Rago (L).

2B: Christian Hall (BU).

Varsity record: Buchanan 18-8.