By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
COLOMA -- It may take a while for the sting of losing the Division 2 District championship to subside, but once it does the 2003 Dowagiac varsity softball team can look back on this season with a smile.
The Chieftains, which were ranked No. 2 in the last coaches poll, set new school records for victories, shutouts and doubles.
Two of those marks, 30 shutouts and 84 doubles, will stand second on the Michigan High School Athletic Association's all-time lists.
Dowagiac also set a new state record for the longest game in Michigan history and was the sixth longest game in national history.
Huntington Beach Marina (Calif.) dropped a 1-0 decision to Ocean View in 35 innings back in 1983 to establish the current record.
The second longest game was played in 1986 when Waterloo, Iowa West defeated Garnavillo, Iowa, 2-1, in 31 innings.
In 1976 LaMesa, Calif., Helix defeated Chula Vista, Calif., 2-1 in 29 innings. Also playing 29 innings were Lakewood, Calif., and Cerritos, Calif. ,in 1986.
Lakewood defeated Cerritos, 1-0.
The fifth longest game in national history was played in 2000 when Clovis, Calif., defeated Fresno (Calif.) Bullard, 1-0, in 24 innings.
The Lakeshore Lancers and Dowagiac Chieftains share the record for the sixth longest game with Lone Grove, Okla., and Inola, Okla., which played 23 innings in 1999. Lone Grove defeated Inola, 2-0.