By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Dowagiac senior Kelly Tomczak joined a couple of teammates last week when she signed a letter of intent to play college softball next season.
Seniors Rachel Minikel and Jenna Stuppy had already signed to play at Northwood University and Western Michigan University before Tomczak inked the dotted line, however, she knew she was going there long before last week.
Tomczak is 8-0 on the year and already has set a new single game strikeout record for the Chieftains with 17 last week.
She followed that up with a 16 strikeout performance on Monday against Three Rivers and fanned 12 in winning both ends of a doubleheader Tuesday against Battle Creek Central.
Dowagiac coach Randy Brooks is glad that she is on his side and that his hitters don't have to face her.
Tomczak is headed to an Eastern Michigan team that is in the beginning stages of rebuilding.
First-year coach Karen Baird is hoping that Tomczak will be one of those key blocks on which she can set the foundation of the school's softball program.
Tomczak said that she is not nervous about competing at the next level. She is looking forward to getting on with her career at Eastern Michigan.
Tomczak said that she chose Eastern over the likes of Grand Valley and Lake Michigan College because she liked the campus and the coaches. She also likes the fact that she can be part of rebuilding the program.
Tomczak knows she will pitch for Eastern Michigan, but she is also hoping to get the chance to swing the bat.