BRIDGMAN — The Buchanan Bucks are the Division 3 district champions.

Not only was Buchanan’s first game of the state tournament pushed back two hours due to rain, the Bucks were forced to wait another two hours before taking the field, following an epic 14-inning battle between perennial powerhouse Berrien Springs and home team Bridgman.  When the Bucks finally did take the dampened field Saturday afternoon, they showed no signs of rust. They hit the Constantine early and often.

After blowing the game open early, it was clear the Bucks were going to make short work of the Falcons.

After the Bucks took a 15-0 lead in the fourth inning, the game was called. Constantine played well, but could not stop the onslaught of hits from the Bucks.

Due to the length of the first semifinal, in which Bridgman won, 8-6 in the 14th inning, and with deteriorating weather conditions, the district championship game was postponed to Monday night.

It took a little longer to wake them up on Monday night, but the Bucks’ bats came alive again in the championship game scoring seven runs in the fifth to give Buchanan a lead it would not relinquish.   Buchanan’s pitcher Jarrett Thomas totaled nine strikeouts Monday night as the Bucks stampeded to a 10-3 victory and the District title.

The regional tournament is Saturday in Bloomingdale.

The Bucks will face Saugatuck noon.