Can state-ranked Lakeview make it back to Final Four in baseball?

Lakeview baseball had a season to remember last year, advancing to the state's final four.

The Spartans are hoping the 2023 postseason is just as memorable. And maybe lasts one game longer.

To make that happen, Lakeview will need to start strong with Michigan High School Athletic Association district tournament play kicking off for baseball and softball teams throughout the state next week.

After its semifinal appearance in 2022, Lakeview has been ranked in the state all season. The veteran Spartans are No. 4 in Division 1 at 28-6 and are looking for another deep run in the postseason.

"I think being there last year makes these guys hungry to get back and do that again," Lakeview coach Kyle Kracht said. "It's been a goal to get back since the day after we lost last year."

For the first time since 2014, Lakeview advanced to the Division 1 semifinals last season and played on the big stage at Michigan State University. The Spartans saw their dream season come to an end, losing to Grosse Pointe North.

"We feel like we have more to prove after what we did last year," Lakeview senior Cade Oxley said. "We are hoping to turn it up in the playoffs and get back to Michigan State again and see what happens. It was exciting to do what we did last year, but now we are looking for more."

Lakeview will open its defense of its district championship in a tourney, hosted by Jackson, with a first-round contest against Holt at Lakeview on May 30. If Lakeview advances, it will move on to the June 3 district semifinals vs. Jackson at Jackson High School in a 10 a.m. game. Battle Creek Central will see Jackson Northwest in the other half of the bracket at noon, with the finals set for 2 p.m.

Lakeview, which upset No. 2-ranked Northville last year in the quarterfinals, knows as well as anyone that a season end quickly. The Spartans, who finish their regular season today against St. Joseph with a chance to clinch the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference, know they need a different mindset for the postseason.

"It's a reset. It's kind of a fourth season for us. There's the preseason, the cold season, the SMAC season and then the postseason," Kracht said. "I see the postseason as kind of the fourth season and there it doesn't matter what your record is. Everybody is 0-0. We saw it last year, anybody can beat anybody in the postseason so you have to be playing your best."

With 11 seniors and a a roster full of players who were part of the semifinal run a year ago, Lakeview can play with some confidence heading into districts.

"You have to play every game like it's your last game," Lakeview senior Jackson Haywood said. "Every practice could be your last practice. That's how I look at it, that's how the team has to look at it. You can have your ace pitcher out there and you can lose. But we are excited about our chances because of the guys we have on the team that have been through it before.

"We have some great pitchers, and that's what it takes. All dogs, and we are excited to get to the postseason and start eating."

Baseball Districts

Division 2 at Coldwater

One local district tourney will start early, beginning Friday. Host Coldwater will face Pennfield in a 4 p.m. first-round contest. The winner advances to see Harper Creek in the district semifinal on June 3. In the other half of the district, Marshall will face Parma Western with the finals later on June 3 at 2:30 p.m.

Division 3 at Galesburg-Augusta

Climax-Scotts, traditionally a Division 4 school, has been moved up to Division 3 as it is now in a co-op. The Climax-Scotts/St. Philip/Calhoun Christian co-op program will be part of district tourney hosted by Galesburg-Augusta, and will play in a district semifinal on June 3. In the other half of the bracket, host G-A will also play June 3 and see the winner of a first-round contest between Parchment and Kalamazoo Christian.

Division 3 at Schoolcraft

Union City, with the most wins in the district, will take its 22-7 record into a Division 3 tourney at Schoolcraft and have a bye, waiting to face the winner of the Centreville/Schoolcraft contest. Bronson and Constantine are in the other half of the bracket.

Division 3 at Hanover-Horton

Perennial power Homer will play a first-round contest against host Hanover-Horton on May 30 in this Division 3 district. Quincy will await the winner of that game with Jonesville and Hillsdale in the other side of the bracket.

Division 4 at Colon

With only four teams in this Division 4 district, Colon will face Bellevue and Tekonsha will see Athens in a doubleheader on Friday, June 2, with the finals set to be played immediately after.

Softball Districts

Division 1 at Loy Norrix

Lakeview and Battle Creek Central will compete in a Division 1 district at Loy Norrix. BCC will face host Loy Norrix on May 30 with the winner getting Portage Central in the semifinals. Lakeview will open district play on June 3 against Jackson in a district semifinal.

Division 2 at Harper Creek

Host Harper Creek was given a bye and will see Three Rivers in a district semifinal on June 3. Marshall will play Coldwater in a first-round district contest on May 30 at Marshall High School with the winner playing Sturgis in the district semifinal at Harper Creek prior to the Beavers' contest that day.

Division 2 at Lake Odessa Lakewood

Pennfield was left out of the Harper Creek district, despite the proximity, and will have to travel to Lake Odessa Lakewood and will see Ionia in a first-round contest on May 30. Portland, Hastings and host Lake Odessa Lakewood are all also in the district, with the finals on June 3.

Division 3 at Union City

Quincy and host Union City will meet in a first-round contest on May 30 to kick off this district. Bronson will await the winner on June 3 with Springport and Homer in the other district semifinal.

Division 4 at Mendon

The Climax-Scotts/St. Philip/Calhoun Christian co-op will compete in a Division 4 district at Mendon and gets a semifinal contest against the winner of White Pigeon/Marcellus on Friday, June 2. Howardsville and Mendon are in the other side of the bracket.

Division 4 at Colon

Tekonsha and Bellevue will meet in the first round of this Division 4 district on May 30 with the winner advancing to see Athens on Friday, June 2 in the semifinal. Host Colon will play Burr Oak.

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

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Can state-ranked Lakeview make it back to Final Four in baseball?