Buchanan senior Erin Glavin set a new school record for hits in a single season as the Bucks won their Division 3 Regional softball title. (Daily Star Photo/File)

BRONSON — What a long strange trip it has been for the Buchanan softball team.

The Bucks were 12-12 at one point this year, but put it all together in the final couple of weeks.

Buchanan won its first regional championship in six years by beating a team that defeated it twice during the regular season.

The Bucks (23-14) edged host Bronson (32-11) 5-4 in the championship game Saturday. Buchanan now advances to the Division 3 quarterfinals against Springport at Lansing Catholic Tuesday at noon.

Buchanan reached the championship game with an 8-4 win over Watervliet.

The Bucks were led by a pair of seniors Saturday.

Erin Glavin became the school’s all-time leader in hits for a season as she was on base seven times in the two games. Glavin now has 71 hits, which betters the old mark held by Vicky Vineyard, which was set in 1989.

Brianna Turnock was on base five times for the Bucks.

But the regional championship did not come easy. Buchanan stranded 24 runners and were guilty of six errors between the two contests.

The Bucks led 5-1 heading into the sixth inning and then had to hold off a furious Vikings’ rally in the bottom of the sixth.

Bronson, which defeated Buchanan 5-0 and 12-7 during the regular season, scored three runs to cut the lead to 5-4.

A double play in the seventh inning ended the Vikings’ hope of winning the regional championship.

Kaitlyn Enders picked of the victory for the Bucks.

Turnock and Emily Kuntz both tripled for Buchanan.

In the semifinals, Kuntz had another triple as the Bucks scored four runs in the fourth and seventh innings to pull out the win.

Division 3 Regional Softball

At Bronson

Championship game

Buchanan 110 201 0 – 5 8 4

Bronson 100 003 0 – 4 7 4
Kaitlynn Enders (W, 22-8); Skyler Sobeski (L)

3B: Brianna Turnock (BU), Emily Kuntz (BU)

Records

Buchanan 23-14, Bronson 32-11

Semifinals

Buchanan 000 400 4 – 8 12 2

Watervliet 010 000 3 – 4 5 1

Kaitlynn Enders (W, 21-8); Lauren Richardson (L)

2B: Morgan Johnson (W), Danielle Smith (W)

3B: Kuntz (BU)

Record

Watervliet 22-9