COLOMA — Capitalizing on opportunities was the difference between winning and losing in the Division 3 regional championship game Saturday afternoon.

Bronson took advantage of some of its chances, while Buchanan could not in a 6-3 loss to the Vikings at Coloma High School.

Bronson (29-11) went on to the Super Regional against Pewamo-Westphalia and dropped a 5-4 decision.

For the Bucks, winners of five straight district titles, the opportunity to win its second regional championship in three years eluded them because they left 12 runners on base.

“That’s going to beat you every time, no doubt,” said Buchanan coach Jim Brawley. “We had a lot of guys on base and a lot of opportunities to score, but when you leave 12 men out there, it’s going to be a long day for you.”

Buchanan got off to a good start, scoring single runs in the first three innings to take a 3-1 lead on the Vikings, whose only run was a solo home run by Ryan Wisman in the bottom of the second.

Gannon Kutemeier was pitching well for the Bucks, but had some issues in the bottom of the third, which he and reliever Jacob Hoover could not escape.

“We were feeling pretty good [at the start], but then we walked a couple of kids and they [Bronson] hit a couple balls hard,” Brawley said. “We brought in Jacob, but he wasn’t quite loose yet, and they hit a ball hard off him. After that, he pitched well. That’s baseball.”

Bronson scored four times, including a bases-clearing double by Kamerton Haviland, that turned the tide in favor of the Vikings.

Bronson went to its bench early as starter Brett Sikorski did not survive the first inning after giving up a double to Brad VanOverberghe and hitting two batters. The last straw came when he walked Matt Hoover with the bases loaded.

Haviland also struggled early on, but settled in and dominated the Bucks from the fourth inning on.

Buchanan did manage to scratch out a run in the sixth inning, but left the bases loaded for the third time in the contest.

Bronson went down without scoring a run in the bottom of the sixth, despite a double by Sikorski, to keep the Bucks within striking distance.

However, Haviland was able to work out of a jam in the seventh to preserve the victory after he gave up a single, hit a batter and walked another.

Buchanan (23-9) finished with nine hits, including two each by Cam Lorance, Sam Riley and Matt Hoover.