For the first time in 16 years, the No. 3-ranked Buchanan baseball team will compete in the Division 3 state quarterfinals.

The quarterfinal will be played at 5 p.m. today at Davenport University in Grand Rapids.

The Bucks (22-7) reached the quarterfinals by defeating Grand Rapids West Catholic 2-1 in nine innings to capture the regional championship at Bloomingdale Saturday.

Buchanan defeated Saugatuck 3-0 in the semifinals.

Lansing Catholic (22-11) defeated Quincy 11-2 in the regional championship game.

The Cougars defeated Pewamo-Westphalia 2-1 in the semifinals.

Every starter in the Lansing Catholic lineup had a hit for the Cougars, who were led by senior Jake Szombati’s double, triple and three walks. Lansing Catholic scored six runs over the first two innings to defeat Quincy.

Riley Creamer picked up the win for the Cougars.

Against Pewamo-Westphalia, Ryan Paul struck out 12 and allowed just one run.

Nic Olson drove in the game-winner in the third inning.

Buchanan also got a pair of strong pitching performances in winning the regional championship.

Jarrett Thomas allowed one run on five hits with seven strikeouts in the title game, while Dalton Riddle worked the first four innings allowing just one hit. Kyle Leazenby came on in the fifth, allowing two hits and protecting the shutout victory.

Offensively, the Bucks were led by Chad Adkerson, who tripled and scored the game-winning run in the ninth inning on a sacrifice fly by Darren Shearer. Adkerson and Shearer also had hits in the opener for the Bucks.

The Bucks advanced to the state semifinals in 1999 when it lost to Blissfield, 8-5.