By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- Randy Brooks got just what he wanted Saturday.
The Dowagiac varsity softball coach brought his team to Niles and suffered a pair of losses, 4-1 and 5-3, to Brandywine in a non-conference doubleheader.
Normally a pair of losses would not make a coach happy, but with tonight marking the start of postseason play, Brooks was thankful for the challenge.
The Chieftains, ranked No. 9 in Division 2, open play in the District Tournament today at 4 p.m. against Niles at St. Joseph High School.
Brandywine also used Saturday's games as preparation for the postseason. The Bobcats are ranked No. 3 in Division 3 and take on Buchanan Saturday at 10 a.m. at Buchanan High School.
Brandywine (34-5) managed a total of 10 hits against Dowagiac (26-11). The Bobcats tallied six hits in the opener and four in the second game.
The Chieftains managed five hits in the first game and just two in the second.
Brittney Reist took the loss for Dowagiac in the first game and drove in the only run of the game with a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning. Ashley Willis took the loss in the second game.
Nicki McGowen earned both pitching victories for Brandywine, improving her record to 32-5 on the year. She struck out 16 batters on the day.
Brandywine committed just one error in the first game but made five mistakes in the second game.
In the first game, Brandywine third baseman Kayla Asmus hit a single and a double to drive in three runs. Amber Valentine also doubled in the opener.
In the second game, Michelle Shoemaker hit a double and a solo home run while Asmus' bat stayed hot and she hit a two-run homer, the first of her career.