COLOMA — The final chapter of Mike Welsh’s 28-year career as head coach of the Buchanan softball team will read that the Bucks lost 11-0 to Coloma in the Division 3 regional championship game Saturday.

But that does not tell the tale of Welsh’s career, which ends with a 692-345 record and 12 district championships, not to mention numerous conference and division titles.

Buchanan won its 12th district title last weekend in Bridgman and reached the finals of the regional with a 5-1 win over Hopkins in the semifinals Saturday.

Coloma, the regional favorite heading into the tournament, scored early an often against Buchanan in the championship game.

The Comets (34-8) scored twice in the first inning, three in the second, two in the fourth and four in the fifth to cut the game short.

Skylar Crisenbery tossed a three-hitter at the Bucks in the title game.

Coloma had 15 hits off of Bucks senior Sammi Luzadre, who tossed a five-hitter in the semifinals against Hopkins.

Alyssa Dillenbeck singled and homered for the Comets, who also got a pair of doubles and four RBIs from Morgan Wagner.

Luzadre doubled for one of the Bucks’ three hits.

In the semifinals, Buchanan (24-13) scored all of the runs it needed in the first inning.

Leading 2-1, the Bucks added a run in the second and two in the sixth to pick up the victory.

Luzadre singled, doubled and drove in two runs, while Erica Donathen also doubled and Jaya Bibbs added a pair of singles.

Coloma advances to the state quarterfinals on Tuesday at Hope College against Napoleon. The game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

 

DIVISION 3 SOFTBALL REGIONAL

At Coloma

COLOMA 11, BUCHANAN 0

Coloma           230     24 – 11 15 0

Buchanan       000     00 – 0 3 1

Skylar Crisenbery (W); Sammi Luzadre (L).

2B: Luzadre (BU), Morgan Wagner (CO) 2, Nicolle Larson (CO).

HR: Alyssa Dillenbeck (C).

Varsity records: Coloma 34-8, Buchanan 24-13.

 

Semifinals

BUCHANAN 5, HOPKINS 1

Hopkins        100     000     0 – 1 5 3

Buchanan      210     002     x – 5 10 1

Sammi Luzadre (W); Kelsey Dusseau (L).

2B: Luzadre (BU), Erica Donathen (BU).

3B: Hannah VanDeRoovart (H).

Varsity record: Hopkins 26-13.