S-M, St. Francis considered favorites.

Coaches who would normally stick to the "one game at a time" line used during tournaments had to break from tradition when talking about the Division IV District drawing.

SHANE KAUFMAN of Suttons Bay delivers a
pitch in the second game of a doubleheader
against Glen Lake Tuesday.

A quick glance at results from baseball games already played this season shows that the lower half of the bracket has not fared so well against the upper half.

Its record, to be more precise, is 0-16.

“Did you hear we ended up with a tough schedule?” asked Leland coach Scott Stoerck when asked about the draw.

A few minutes later, he relented. “Just being facetious.”

If Leland beat the odds in the draw, managing to be assigned a path avoiding the three favored teams until the final, then Leelanau School broke the house.

Here is how the drawing unfolded, keeping in mind that St. Mary and host Traverse City St. Francis will enter the tourney as favorites. Glen Lake follows as a dark horse candidate, with Leland, Traverse City Christian and Leelanau School combining to lose all 16 games played against the upper three teams.

Christian will meet Leland in a pre-district game at 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. Francis, followed by St. Mary vs. Glen Lake. The winning two teams move on to the District Tournament Saturday, with the Christian/Leland survivor taking on Leelanau School at 10 a.m. The winner of the St. Mary/ Glen Lake matchup will play host St. Francis.

Winning teams will play for the title that afternoon.

Leland, which entered two games played Tuesday against Frankfort with an 8-16 record, has beaten Christian in three of four matchups this season. Last week the Comets easily took the top end of a doubleheader, 18-5, but fell 10-9 in the nightcap.

But just to prove anything is possible in high school baseball, Leland surprised highly touted Mesick in the second game of their makeup double header Friday.

News of the drawing might have buoyed the Comets’ spirits.

“We heard about it between games at Mesick. And we play St. Mary Friday (in a regular season game), which is always an exciting game. I’m just trying to keep their heads on their work,” said Stoerck.

Glen Lake coach Kris Herman is likewise seeking to get his club in the right mindset.

“By this time in the season, there are no secrets. We’re going to have to go through a really good St. Mary team with Ray (Platts) on the hill, and then a really good St. Francis team with Dan Brick on the hill,” said Herman.

Both pitchers present challenges, throwing about 80 mph. Brick throws fewer strikes, yet “he’s got a good breaking ball,” said Herman. “But Ray has a good off-speed pitch to mix in.”

And who will Glen Lake start on the mound? “I’m going to keep that to myself,” said Herman.

Well, make that one secret.

Herman said that the best teams will meet at some time in the tournament, regardless of when. He’s hoping his players respond to early challenges presented by the draw.

“If you’re any kind of competitor, you love the challenge,” said Herman. “We’re coming to play. We’re not pitching our tents.”