Niles held off a last inning rally by Buchanan to edge the Bucks 4-3 in the championship game of the Polish Classic at Bronson High school Saturday.

The Vikings led 4-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh after scoring three times in the top half of the inning.

Niles reached the title game with a 7-3 win over host Bronson in the opening game of the tournament.

Buchanan moved into the finals with a 12-1 win over Union City.

“The girls played really well,” said Niles coach Rick McKeel. “We had about a three-hour wait after our first game and I was concerned about that, but the girls responded and played great. I’m happy for the girls.”

In the championship game, Niles turned a 1-0 lead into a 4-0 advantage on the Bucks with a three-run seventh.

With two outs, Taylor Gibson singled to drive in R. Moore and Reese Davies.

Taylor Altergott followed with a double to plate Davies and Gibson.

In the bottom of the seventh, Morgan Lenox, Megan Adkerson and K. Lukkarila singled to score Lenox.

The Bucks made it 4-2 on a passed ball before an error allowed the third run to score on a ball hit by Buchanan’s Jayla Bibbs.

Brooke Timm was able to strike out Taylor Reed to end the rally and the game.

Timm went the distance, allowing one earned run on five hits with four strikeouts.

Erica Donathen took the loss for the Bucks, allowing four runs on seven hits.

Niles was led offensively by Addison Davies, who was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Altergott doubled and drove in two runs, while Sadie Fountain doubled for the Vikings.

Lenox and Adkerson both had two hits. Adkerson singled and doubled with an RBI.

Timm also picked up the win in the opening game victory over Bronson.

She allowed one earned run on six hits with seven strikeouts.

Hannah Albright and Kelsey Barkman were both 2-for-3 to lead the Vikings. Aynslee Myer drove in a pair of runs.

For the Bucks against Union City, Donathen had a pair of home runs and Adkerson doubled. Reed and Bibbs both had two hits.

 

P0LISH CLASSIC

At Bronson

Championship game

NILES 4, BUCHANAN 3

Niles                 000       001       3 – 4 7 2

Buchanan         000       000       3 – 3 5 1

Brooke Timm (W); Erica Donathen (L).

Varsity record: Niles 14-19, Buchanan 20-13.

 

Semifinals

BUCHANAN 12, UNION CITY 1

Buchanan         100       227 – 12 11 0

Union City        000       001 – 1 3 2

Sammi Luzadre; Adams (L).

2B: Megan Adkerson (BU).

HR: Erica Donathen (BU) 2.

 

NILES 7, BRONSON 3

Niles                021       020       2 – 7 8 3

Bronson            000       020       1 – 3 6 3

Brooke Timm (W), Sikorski (L).

2B: Lasky (BR), Robinson (BR), Sikorski (BR).