Bobcats draw Panthers in lone softball quarterfinal

Since the Division 4 district brackets were reorganized to their current configuration in 2008, Frankfort has hosted every year.

Now Onekama gets a shot at entertaining postseason guests this season for the first time since its fields opened in 2007.

“Our whole community is excited to host the district,” said Onekama baseball coach John Neph. “Those fields are fairly new and we put a lot of time and effort into them. We’ve got a lot of activity going to make sure the fields are prepared.”

Although the location changes this year, the field remains the same as Brethren, Frankfort and Manistee Catholic Central join Onekama in the baseball district. The draw, which was conducted last Thursday, sets up the same as last year with June 1 semifinals between MCC and Frankfort to start and Onekama and Brethren to follow. Winners play in the championship game 30 minutes after the second semifinal.

Frankfort edged Brethren 4-3 in the championship last year to record its fifth straight district championship.

“Any one of those four teams can win the district,” Neph said, “so we’re going to have to show up and play our best.”

The five-school softball district draw is different this season as Brethren will face defending district champion Frankfort in the lone district quarterfinal on May 28 at Frankfort. Bear Lake and Onekama squared off in the quarterfinals each of the last two years.

“We knew Frankfort was going to be a favorite, so I’d rather just play them right off the bat,” said Brethren softball coach Jason McElrath. “You’re going to have to face them at some point, so we’ll just take our medicine and do it right off the bat.”

The winner between the Bobcats and Panthers will face host Onekama in the second semifinal on June 1, following a semifinal between MCC and Bear Lake, which split to open their seasons. The championship game will begin 30 minutes after the second semifinal.

“Right now, I think there’s no real dominant team in this area,” McElrath said. “It’s not like anyone is just running over everybody. I think anybody, any day, right now is beatable. Between now and then, we’re just trying to work on improving the little things, start preparing and hopefully we’ll be ready by that day.”