There was a lot happening in South Bend-area sports Saturday. Here are some highlights
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
There was a lot happening in South Bend-area sports Saturday. Here are some highlights
Three state championships were brought back to the South Bend area May 31. Saint Joseph girls and South Bend Bears boys lacrosse teams won Indiana state titles. Edwardsburg and Buchanan softball teams also claimed district championships. Niles baseball won its first district title since 1983, beating Berrien Springs, 10-0, in the semifinal Saturday morning before defeating Lakeshore, 2-1, later that day. The defending state champions, Elkhart unified track and field won a regional title at NorthWood High School Saturday and moved onto the final later in the day, June 7. The winner will face Three Rivers High School in the state title game Saturday, June 8, at Lakeshores High School, Indiana. The state championship game will be held June 9 at the Indiana State Fair, in Bloomington, Indiana, with the winner advancing to the state championship contest in Indianapolis. The final will take place June 10 at Indiana State Park, Bloomington. The Indiana State Lacrosse Association will hold its state championship games June 10 and 11.
Saint Joseph girls and South Bend Bears boys lacrosse teams won Indiana state titles.
Edwardsburg’s Zach Overmyer won the Division 2 high jump title in Michigan.
Niles baseball won its first district title since 1983.
Edwardsburg and Buchanan softball teams also claimed district championships.
Three state championships were brought back to the South Bend area May 31 — two in Indiana and one in Michigan.
In the Hoosier State, the South Bend Saint Joseph girls lacrosse team won the Indiana Girls Lacrosse Association Class 1A state championship, knocking off Brownsburg in a dramatic 10-9 contest. Senior attacker Kate O’Shaughnessy scored five goals, while junior goalkeeper Maya Matthews had 19 saves on goal.
They were not the only lacrosse champions from the city, as the South Bend Bears boys team defeated Indianapolis East Side, 16-6, to claim the Indiana Lacrosse Club state championship. Ben Nevala powered the Bears with five goals and six assists.
North of the state line, MHSAA track and field state championship meets were held Saturday, and Edwardsburg’s Zach Overmyer had the highlight performance amongst area teams. The junior leapt 6 feet, 8 inches to win the Division 2 high jump championship. Overmyer’s classmate, Sarah Pippin, placed third in the same event on the girls’ side with a jump of 5-5.
In boys Division 2, Niles senior Ayden McCarey finished third and Edwardsburg junior Mobius Stubberfield seventh in the 400-meter run. McCarey also earned a runner-up showing in the 110-meter hurdles.
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Athletes from Brandywine and Buchanan competed in Division 3, but none placed in the top eight of their respective events.
Long drought ends for Niles baseball
There was history for Niles baseball, winning its first district title since 1983. They beat Berrien Springs, 10-0, in the semifinal Saturday morning before defeating Lakeshore, 2-1, in the championship game later that day. It was a comeback victory in the final, with Brayden Wiemuth’s RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning proving to be the game-winning run. Jaxen Racht struck out 14 batters in 5 2/3rd innings work against Lakeshore.
Niles (26-6-1) will now play in a regional semifinal Wednesday, June 4, against Three Rivers at Vicksburg High School. The winner advances to the title game Saturday, June 7, at Lakeshore.
Edwardsburg, Buchanan softball win MHSAA district titles
On the softball diamond, Edwardsburg pulled off the biggest shocker in the area to win a second-straight Division 2 district title. The Eagles stunned Dowagiac, 4-3, in the semifinal before beating Vicksburg, 7-6, in the final. Dowagiac entered with a 30-3 record and had beaten the Eddies twice in the regular season.
A four-run third inning was all Edwardsburg (23-16) needed against the Chieftains, with Lani Hardin’s three-RBI single being the highlight. The Eddies put up a six spot in the fourth inning against Vicksburg to win. Hardin added two more RBIs in that game.
Edwardsburg advances to the regional round Saturday, June 7. They will play a semifinal game against another Wolverine Conference foe, Paw Paw, with the winner advancing to the title contest later that day. All games will be at Lakeshore High School.
Elsewhere, the graduation of a big senior class did not slow down Buchanan as they won another Division 3 district title. The Bucks (25-12), who reached the D3 state semifinals last year, beat Brandywine, 7-2, and River Valley, 16-0 (3 innings), Saturday to win a fifth-straight district crown. Caitlyn Horvath earned the pitching win in the semifinal, then was one of three players with three RBIs in the final.
Buchanan will play Bangor in a regional semifinal June 7 at Schoolcraft High School. The winner moves onto the final later that day.
Elkhart unified track repeats as regional champions
The defending IHSAA state champions, Elkhart unified track and field won a regional title Saturday at NorthWood with 143 points. Penn, Homestead and Hobart were the other three teams from the regional to advance to the state finals Saturday, June 7, at North Central High School in Indianapolis. Twelve co-ed teams will vie for the state title, competing in long jump, shot put, the 100, 400, 400 boys relay and 400 girls relay.
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