The Coloma Comets proved why they are one of the team’s to beat in the Wolverine Conference West Division softball title chase Friday afternoon.

The Comets defeated Dowagiac 8-1 and 2-0 in a battle of West Division undefeated teams.

Despite the loss, Chieftain coach Mike Behnke was pleased with the way his team competed in its first real challenge of the 2014 season.

“We were very competitive against a very good team tonight in Coloma and gave ourselves chances to win,” he said. “We had bases loaded in the seventh of game two with one of our best hitter up and Kourtney (Mitchell) just got under the ball a little bit.

“In the first game, we made a couple of mistakes physically and mentally otherwise that game it is a 2-1 game in the seventh and who knows what happens. We are young and need to learn what it takes to win against good teams.”

Dowagiac (14-3, 2-2 West) had eight hits in the first game, including doubles by Taylor Hulett, Riley Daly and Zoe Michael. Daly was 3-for-3 in the contest.

In the second game, the Chieftains had five more hits, including a double by Mitchell.

Dowagiac is back in action Monday night when it takes on visiting St. Joseph beginning at 4 p.m.

 

First game

Coloma                        010     034     0 – 8 9 0

Dowagiac                    000     000     1 – 1 8 1

Emily Najacht (W) and Makenzie Moody; Sabrina Ruiz (L), Alyssa Allen (7) and Kourtney Mitchell

2B: Katie Scheuer (C), Taylor Hulett (D), Riley Daly (D), Zoe Michael (D)

HR: Scheuer (C)

 

Second game

Dowagiac                    000     000     0 – 0 5 1

Coloma                        000     002     0 – 2 7 1

Emily Najacht (W) and Makenzie Moody; Taylor Hulett (L) and Kourtney Mitchell

2B: Mitchell (D), Katie Scheuer (C)

HR: Moody (C)

 

Varsity record: Dowagiac 14-3, 2-2 West