By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Some of the finest softball teams in Michigan and northern Indiana will grace four Dowagiac fields on Saturday in the annual Chieftain Invitational.
Two defending state champions and a state semifinalist are among the eight-team field which will play on four softball fields beginning with the first round at 10:30 a.m.
Dowagiac, ranked No. 4 in the preseason coaches poll, will face Crown Point (Ind.) in the first game on the high school field at 10:30.
At Watertower Park, Elkhart Memorial will face Walled Lake Western, which was defeated by Portage Northern in the Division 2 semifinals last spring.
Three-time defending state champion Portage Northern will face Mishawaka Marian in the first game at Rotary Park.
Defending tournament champion Andrean (Ind.) will meet defending Division 3 state champion Kalamazoo Christian at the Highway Department field in the other first round contest.
Winners play at 1 p.m. at the high school and Rotary Park. The championship game is set for 3:30 p.m. at the high school.