The Dowagiac baseball team defeated South Haven 7-1 to take the Corey Hinz Memorial title on Saturday. (The Daily News/Provided)

From staff reports

SOUTH HAVEN – Pitching and defense wins championships.

On Saturday at the Corey Hinz Memorial Tournament in South Haven, Dowagiac got great pitching and kept the defensive miscues to a minimum in claiming the title.

The Chieftains (2-0) defeated Gobles 3-1 in eight innings in the opening game and then rolled past host South Haven 7-1 in the championship game.

“Summarizing our first day of competition, the story line was pitching, pitching, pitching,” Dowagiac coach Bryan Henry said. “Only walking five batters this early in the season in 15 innings was superb. Now the other aspects of our game definitely need improvement.”

Neither team hit the ball well in the opening game, but the Chieftains were able to scrap together a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning to advance to the title game.

Dowagiac managed just three hits in the opener against Gobles, but took advantage of a trio of errors by the Tigers.

With the score tied at 1-1 at the end of seven innings, the teams played under the International Extra Inning Rule.

Alex Miller was sent to second base to begin the inning.

Aaron Blaske reached base on an error by the Gobles shortstop, which advanced Miller to third. After Blaske stole second, Zac Hyatt reached on a walk to load the bases.

Another Tiger mistake, this one by the pitcher, allowed Miller to score and Blaske to move up to third.

Dowagiac then used its first and third play to plate Blaske with an insurance run.

Cody Cox, who worked the first six and two-third innings, drove in the first run for the Chieftains. He, along with Hyatt and Andrew Kurdelmeyer, had the three hits for the Chieftains.

Cox allowed two hits and an unearned run with six strikeouts and just two walks. He gave way to Hyatt in the seventh and the junior hurler picked up the win as he worked an inning and a third with three strikeouts.

Pitching wise, Cody Cox and Hyatt were phenomenal,” Henry said. “Cox just gave up two hits in the fifth and Hyatt slammed the door getting a pop out in the seventh and striking out the side in the eighth.”

Dowagiac grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the title game and added two more in the top of the fourth to open up a 3-0 advantage on the Rams.

South Haven scored its lone run in the bottom of the fourth.

The Chieftains exploded for four runs in the sixth inning to put the game out of reach.
Hyatt improved to 2-0 on the year as he pitched the first four innings, allowing just a run and striking out four. Jason Turner pitched the final three innings, striking out three.
Kurdelmeyer had two hits and two RBIs for the Chieftains in the championship game.
Dowagiac also got a single and two RBIs from Matt Ernzen. Darius Wilson and Cox singled and drove in a run. Blaske drove in a run as well.

“The bats woke up just a little in game 2, but the story was still pitching,” Henry said. “Hyatt started and received his second win of the day pitching four solid innings. Turner then picked up the save pitching the last three innings.”

The Chieftains jump back into action on Monday as they travel to perennial powerhouse Decatur for a non-conference doubleheader.

Game 1
Dowagiac 000 001 02 – 3 3 2
Gobles 000 001 00 – 1 1 3
Cody Cox (D), Zac Hyatt 7th (W, 1-0) and Brett Scanlon

Game 2
South Haven 000 100 0 – 1 2 2
Dowagiac 100 204 x – 7 7 2
Zac Hyatt (W, 2-0), Jason Turner 5th (Save, 1) and Brett Scanlon
Varsity record: Dowagiac 2-0