High School Notebook: Can Lakeview make another deep run as baseball postseason begins?
BATTLE CREEK — Lakeview has made deep runs in the postseason the last few years with a veteran squad. A younger group looks to see if the Spartans can have similar success this season as the state tournament begins this week.
Some districts for baseball will begin Friday, with most starting Tuesday after Memorial Day, as local teams look to make a charge toward the Michigan High School Athletic Association state finals, which will be held June 15 at Michigan State University.
Lakeview was at MSU two seasons ago, advancing to the state semifinals in Division I. Last year, the Spartans went to the state quarterfinals before getting knocked out.
MORE: Regional Notebook: Tennis teams, track athletes claim titles, advance to state
After some graduation losses, the 2024 Lakeview team has had an entire regular season to get ready for this moment.
"That was kinda the elephant in the room for us this season. We lost a lot from last year and there was a question of would we be able to compete this year. And we have for most of the year. We were in contention in the league until the last week when we dropped a couple of tough games," Lakeview coach Kyle Kracht said. "It has been an adjustment, because we have had high expectations in the past years. But we have a chance to still make a run this year. We are closer than I think even the team realizes. We just need a little bit more confidence and that comes with playing. But we have enough talent to make a run."
Baseball
Division 1
Lakeview will host a Division 1 district, which will include Battle Creek Central, Jackson and Holt. The four-team tournament will start with semifinals at 10 a.m. June 1 with Lakeview vs. Jackson. BCC will face Holt in the other side of the bracket with the finals set for 2 p.m.
Division 2
City squad Harper Creek, ranked No. 20 in the latest Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association, will be involved in a Division 2 district hosted by Jackson Northwest. However, the Beavers will play in the opening round at home against rival Marshall at 4:30 p.m. on May 28. The winner will advance to the semifinals on June 1 to play Coldwater in the second game of the day at 12:30 p.m. In the other side, host Jackson Northwest will face Parma Western.
In a district at Otsego, Pennfield and Gull Lake will play in a first-round contest at 5 p.m. on May 24. The winner will see Plainwell in the semifinals on June 1 with Otsego and Hastings meeting on the other side of the bracket.
Division 3
Due to being involved in a co-op, Class D Climax-Scotts has moved up a division and will host a Division 3 district. The Climax-Scotts/St. Philip co-op will face Union City in the semifinals of that bracket on June 1. Prior to that, Quincy will see Bronson in the opening round on May 28. The winner will face Jonesville.
In a Division 3 district at Parchment, Delton Kellogg will see No. 8 Kalamazoo Christian in the first round on May 28. The winner will face Comstock in one semifinal. In the other semifinal, Galesburg-Augusta will play Parchment.
Olivet will host a Division 3 district which will open May 28 with Hanover-Horton vs. No. 16 Lumen Christi. Homer will see the winner of that game in one semifinal on June 1 with Olivet facing Springport in the other semifinal.
Division 4
In a Division 4 district at Mendon, area teams Bellevue and Athens will meet up in the first round on May 28. The winner will see Maple Valley in the semifinals on June 1 with Tekonsha and Mendon on the other side of the bracket.
Colon will be involved in a Division 4 district at Centreville and will play the winner of Centreville vs. White Pigeon. Marcellus and Burr Oak are in the other side of the bracket.
Softball
Most district tournaments in softball will be played in a single day, with the majority set for June 1. The state finals are also set for MSU on June 15.
Division 1
Lakeview will host a four-team Division 1 district on June 1 with the Spartans playing Jackson at 10 a.m. BCC will see Holt in the other side of the bracket with the final set for 2 p.m.
Division 2
City teams Harper Creek and Pennfield will be at a Division 2 district at Coldwater on June 1. Pennfield will see host Coldwater in the 10 a.m. game with Harper Creek facing Marshall at noon. The finals are set for 2 p.m.
Gull Lake will be involved in a Division 2 district at Otsego and the Blue Devils will play Vicksburg in the first round on May 28. The winner will face Plainwell in the semifinals on June 1 with Otsego and Paw Paw meeting in the other semifinal.
Division 3
Homer will host a Division 3 district on June 1 and will face Hillsdale in the first round. Quincy will see Jonesville in the other semifinal.
Bronson will also host a Division 3 district, starting on May 28 with Constantine facing Schoolcraft. The winner will match up with Bronson in the semifinals on June 1 with Lawton facing Union City in the other semifinal.
In a Division 3 district at Parchment, Delton Kellogg will face the winner of Parchment vs. Comstock in one semifinal. Galesburg-Augusta will play Kalamazoo Christian in the other side of the bracket.
Division 4
The Climax-Scotts/St. Philip co-op softball team will play in a district at Gobles, facing Martin in the semifinals on June 1. Gobles will see Kalamazoo Hackett in the other semifinal.
In a Division 4 district at Colon on June 1, Tekonsha will play Athens and Colon will see Burr Oak in the semifinals.
Girls Soccer
Girls soccer districts will run from May 22-June 1 with the state finals set for Michigan State University on June 15.
Division 1
City teams Lakeview and Battle Creek Central will be involved in a Division 1 district at No. 5-ranked Portage Central. The two rivals will meet in the first round at Lakeview on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Whoever advances will face the winner of Loy Norrix vs. Kalamazoo Central in a district semifinal on May 28 at Portage Central.
Division 2
City team Harper Creek was placed at Wayland for a Division 2 district and will see Hastings in the first round at 5 p.m. Friday at Hastings High School. The winner will see the Middleville Thornapple vs. Otsego winner in a district semifinal on May 28 at Wayland. No. 3-ranked Gull Lake received a bye and will get the winner of Wayland vs. No. 7 Plainwell in the semifinals on May 28.
In a Division 2 district hosted by Mason, No. 14 Marshall received a bye and will play on May 28 as it awaits the winner of Sturgis vs. No. 15 St. Joseph. Coldwater is also involved in that district and will see Charlotte in the first round on Wednesday.
Division 4
The Calhoun Christian/St. Philip co-op girls soccer team was sent to a Division 4 district hosted by Potterville and will play the winner of Bronson vs. Potterville on May 29 in the semifinals. Comstock will see Jonesville in the other semifinal.
Harper Creek wins golf title
Harper Creek finished as Interstate 8 Conference league champs in boys golf, clinching the title with a first-place finish at the conference tournament.
Harper Creek had a team score of 309 to edge second-place Jackson Northwest with 313.
Harper Creek's Joey Mario and Colton Beard tied for second place in regulation with an 18-hole score of 75 at Cedar Creek Golf Course. The Beavers' Jack Schragg finished with a 79 with Evan Munez carding an 80, Quinn Barrick an 81 and Spencer Denney an 82. Mario finished tied for first place overall in the conference for the season.
Marshall finished fourth overall in the league standings and ended with a 329 in the tournament championship, led by Clark Erwin with a round of 80.
Marshall girls win I-8 soccer championship
Marshall won its ninth straight Interstate 8 Conference championship in girls soccer after defeating Hastings, 2-0, in the finals of the league tournament. Marshall finished the regular season at 6-0, outscoring opponents 28-1 in league action. Anaya Burghdorf scored on an assist from Stefanie DeLong and Addison Waito for Marshall in the first half of the final to give the Redhawks a 1-0 lead at intermission. Waito scored the final goal for her 13th of the season on an assist from Ollie Rozell and Jordyn St. John. After starting the season at 1-3-0, Marshall is unbeaten in the last 11 games and has climbed to No. 14 in the state in Division 2.
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Notebook: Can Lakeview make another run as baseball postseason begins?
