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Lakeview hopes to hang out in Coldwater all week as regionals get started

bill broderick, battle creek enquirer
·4 min read
With eyes on his head coach Kyle Kracht, Lakeview's Zach Kucharczyk cruises into third base after a leadoff triple in the Spartans' win over Jackson in the district semifinals on Saturday. Lakeview will compete in a regional semifinal at Coldwater on Wednesday.
With eyes on his head coach Kyle Kracht, Lakeview's Zach Kucharczyk cruises into third base after a leadoff triple in the Spartans' win over Jackson in the district semifinals on Saturday. Lakeview will compete in a regional semifinal at Coldwater on Wednesday.

Lakeview baseball enjoyed its last trip to Coldwater.

So much so, the Spartans are hoping to make a regular visit to the town a couple more times this week.

Lakeview is among a handful of area baseball and softball teams still alive as the Michigan High School Athletic Association postseason reaches the regional round.

Lakeview advanced by winning two games in Coldwater on Saturday, earning a district title

Through a quirk in the scheduling, the Spartans will play a first-round regional contest on that same Coldwater baseball field on Wednesday. And if Lakeview gets past that game, it could have two more in that city on Saturday in a regional final and a state quarterfinal.

Lakeview will see Ann Arbor Skyline in a Division 1 regional semifinal at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Coldwater. Also playing on Wednesday at roughly the same time will be Monroe vs. Brownstown Woodhaven in a regional semifinal at Ypsilanti. The winner of that game will see the Lakeview vs. Skyline winner in a regional final at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Coldwater.

The Spartans earned two shutouts in winning their second straight district title and are ranked No. 16 in the final coaches poll at 24-6.

The three other teams on their side of the bracket are all unranked, with Ann Arbor Skyline (17-14) getting past Dexter, 6-2, in its district final.

If Lakeview advances that far, the Spartans could see No. 2-ranked Northville (24-6) in the state quarterfinal on Saturday.

Jake Kucharczyk hits a home run during Lakeview's district semifinal win over Jackson in Division 1 action at Coldwater on Saturday. The Spartans will play Ann Arbor Skyline in a regional semifinal at Coldwater on Wednesday.
Jake Kucharczyk hits a home run during Lakeview's district semifinal win over Jackson in Division 1 action at Coldwater on Saturday. The Spartans will play Ann Arbor Skyline in a regional semifinal at Coldwater on Wednesday.

Division 2 Baseball

Olivet knocked off Marshall in extra innings to win its district title and now the Eagles head to a regional semifinal at Eaton Rapids to face Charlotte at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Charlotte upset No. 10 Eaton Rapids in the districts to advance. Olivet comes into the regional on a roll after going undefeated in league play to win the Greater Lansing Athletic Conference as the Eagles came into the postseason at 27-2.

Division 3 Baseball

Usually competing in Division 4, Climax-Scotts was put in Division 3 this season due to its co-op status with St. Philip. The Panthers were able to  handle the step up in class size very well and came away with a district title and will now play in a regional contest at Centreville. The Climax-Scotts/St. Philip co-op beat Schoolcraft, 14-0, in the district final. The reward is a date with No. 1-ranked Buchanan in a regional semifinal at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

In another Division 3 regional, Union City advanced and will play Hudson 5 p.m, Wednesday at Bronson. The Chargers escaped from district play with an upset win over state-ranked Homer in the championship contest.

Division 4 Baseball

Colon upset No. 12-ranked Mendon in the district final, 3-2, to win a Division 4 title. Colon will face host Decatur in a regional semifinal at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. Decatur ended the regular season at 20-8 and was ranked No. 16. Decatur had an easy time of it in a three-team district, winning back-to-back shutouts.

Division 1 Softball

Coldwater had to get past Lakeview in the district semifinal, 4-1, early on Saturday. From there, the Cardinals were able to cruise as Coldwater won a district championship with a 20-1 win over Sturgis in a four-inning contest in the final. Coldwater advances to a regional semifinal at Portage Northern to play DeWitt, noon on Saturday. If the Cardinals advance, they will see the winner of Holt vs. Mattawan.

Division 4 Softball

With Jocelyn Hall throwing a no-hitter and striking out 12, Athens defeated Burr Oak, 2-0, in a Division 4 district final at Athens High School. The Indians now play unranked Three Oaks River Valley in a regional at Mendon with a 10 a.m. game on Saturday. If it advances from there, Athens will see the winner of a top 10 matchup between Kalamazoo Christian and Mendon.

Soccer Regionals

After knocking off No. 1-ranked Marshall in the districts, Gull Lake cruises into regional play with confidence. The Blue Devils are ranked No. 6 and are the only top 10 team in their bracket.

Gull Lake (17-2) will see Mason (12-6-1) in a Division 2 regional semifinal at Harper Creek at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. If the Blue Devils advance, they will play for a regional title and a chance for a spot in the state quarterfinals in a Friday contest at Harper Creek against the winner of No. 12 St. Joseph vs. Zeeland West.

Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter @billbroderick.

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Lakeview hopes to hang out in Coldwater all week as regionals begin