By Staff
It was nice to see Dowagiac getting some state-wide recognition recently.
I came into the office over the weekend and John Eby had placed a copy of the Detroit Free Press sports section on my desk open to the listing of the Top 50 softball players in the state of Michigan.
Listed at No. 7 and No. 8 were two Dowagiac players.
Jenna Stuppy and Kelly Tomczak were both in the Top 10.
How nice for those two, Dowagiac Union High School and the community as a whole to get such recognition.
I said in this space a year ago that Tomczak belonged on the All-State team along side teammate Stuppy.
That didn't happen, but at least somebody noticed that Dowagiac has more than one outstanding softball player.
Tomczak and Stuppy will forever be joined together in the annuals of Chieftain softball history.
The two have shared the softball "MVP" award each of their first three seasons on the varsity.
I have been to a lot of All-Sports banquets over the years and I cannot remember two players sharing the same award for all four years.
In fact, I cannot remember one person receiving the same award for four straight seasons.
Of course they haven't won it together yet this year, but if they continue to play as well as they have over the span of their careers I have a hunch they will win it again.
Stuppy has already inked a letter of intent to play softball the next four years at Western Michigan University for former Dowagiac standout Kathy Leitke.
Tomczak is expected to sign a letter of intent with Eastern Michigan University later this month.
It will be interesting to see how they adjust to be opponents instead of teammates over the next four years of their softball careers.
For now, Stuppy and Tomczak have gotten the Chieftains off to a 4-1 start.
Dowagiac is considered one of the top contenders to win the Division 2 state championship this season.
Dowagiac has plenty of talent that goes beyond Stuppy and Tomczak. It has a very solid team which should make a run at the Big-16 Conference West Division championship and the district championship.
Standing in its way of course are the Lakeshore Lancers. Dowagiac must find a way to finally get past the Lancers if it wants to take a shot at winning it all this year.