A three-run home run by Lakeshore’s Sierra Ciesielski in the second inning proved to be the difference at the Lancers defeated host Edwardsburg 3-1 for the Division 2 regional softball championship Saturday.

The Lancers (32-6-1) now advance to Tuesday’s quarterfinals in at Davenport University in Grand Rapids where it will face Spring Lake at 3:30 p.m.

In a game that did not feature much of any offense as the two teams combined for seven hits, it was Ciesielski, who spent part of the year on the Lakeshore JV, who proved all the scoring the Lancers needed.

With one out in the bottom of the second, Olivia Freehling singled to left and Jordan Wermund doubled to right, sending pinch runner Jena Nate to third.

With two strikes, Ciesielski roped a line drive out of the park to give the Lancers the early lead.

Edwardsburg pitcher Ashley Pion would settle down after that and keep the Eddies within striking distance of Lakeshore.

But the damage was already done as Edwardsburg managed just one hit off of winning pitcher Taylor Simon, who allowed a solo home run in the sixth inning to Layne Stinnett.

Simon also got plenty of help from the Lancers’ defense, which seemed to make one great play after another.

“We gave it our best shot,” Edwardsburg coach Randy Brooks said. “I was a little disappointed in our at-bats. We swung at some pitches that were not good pitches to swing at. They (the Lancers) made a few plays. That right fielder made a great play, the center fielder made a play and their third made two great plays. That one on (Hannah) Shoupe was big because we hit the home run right after that. If she doesn’t make that play then it is 3-2 and who knows what happens.”

Simon would strike out eight in the contest.

Pion would finish with a six-hitter with four strikeouts.

In the semifinals, Edwardsburg blanked Olivet 4-0 behind a four-hitter from Allie Strycker, who struck out eight and walked just one.

The Eddies finished with seven hits, led by Stinnett and Lexi Clark, both of whom had two hits.

Six Edwardsburg seniors, Stinnett, Shoupe, Savannah Dixon, Strycker, Hannah Mitchell and Michaela Ritschard accounted for 121 wins in their four-year careers.

Brooks said they will be missed.

“The seniors’ contributions here have been tremendous,” he said. “They were all in the lineup today and they are great people. They are all going on to college next year.”

 

DIVISION 2 SOFTBALL REGIONAL

At Edwardsburg

Championship game

LAKESHORE 3, EDWARDSBURG 1

Edwardsburg            000     001     0 – 1 1 0

Lakeshore                  030     000     x – 3 6 0

Ashley Pion (L); Taylor Simon (W).

2B: Jordan Wermund (L).

HR: Layne Stinnett (E), Sierra Ciesielski (L).

Varsity records: Lakeshore 32-6-1, Edwardsburg 34-8.

 

Semifinals

EDWARDBURG 4, OLIVET 0

Edwardsburg                        001     030     0 – 4 7 1

Olivet                                     000     000     0 – 0 4 3

Allie Strycker (W); Jaclyn Groves (L).

2B: Groves (O).