CROWN POINT | Crown Point lost one conference game on its way to the Duneland Athletic Conference championship and a No. 1 ranking in Class 4A.

But now the Bulldogs will have to face the one DAC team that bested them during the regular season if they are going to defend their sectional title -- Chesterton. Crown Point dropped Portage 11-6, while the Trojans slipped past Merrillville 1-0 to set up Friday's anticipated rematch.

The Bulldogs (27-2) jumped all over the Indians in the first inning, scoring eight runs off Steve Bryan, including six before the first out was recorded. Joe Patrick capped off the rally with a long two-run home run.

"I thought we did pretty well defensively," Crown Point coach Steve Strayer said. "We were hitting it right at them in the first, but their guy adjusted on the mound and they started hitting the ball."

After one inning, a mercy rule did not look far out of reach, but Portage responded in the top of the second by putting up five runs on starter Mike Kozlowski. Kyle Schiller brought in two runs off a single, while senior Nate Hall followed up by driving in two runs off a double.

Bryan found his form, giving up only three runs over the final five innings, but the Bulldogs' early lead was enough for the win, with Eric Clayton shutting down the Indians in relief of Kozlowski.

"We got hurt with some hangin' baseballs, but (Bryan) didn't fold in the tent," Portage coach Tim Pirowski said.

In the nightcap, the Trojans (20-5-1) relied on their pitching staff to get past the Pirates.

"We didn't do much, just a home run, but (Shane) Breitzke got a ball up the middle and took it the other way," Chesterton coach Jack Campbell said.

Starter Steve Peterson turned in a gem, giving up just one hit and striking out eight over five innings. Ace Shawn Green closed it out, coming out of the bullpen for the first time this season, striking out five in two innings.

Breitzke delivered the game-winner in the fifth inning, sending a solo shot over the right-center field fence.

"This is sectional baseball at its best," Merrillville coach Mark Ciesielski said. "We came into this game saying we had to play a perfect game. We made some plays that we hadn't made all year, but couldn't close the door."

The Bulldogs will face the 6-foot-7 Green for the third time in the championship. The teams were ranked 1-2 in the Times' final poll of the season after splitting one-run decisions in conference play.