By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
If having heart were all it took to win, Dowagiac's 6-8 year-old Little Leaguers would be champions. Unfortunately, that isn't the case.
Dowagiac made it to the semifinals of its Roundhouse Round Robin Little League tournament, but fell to Eastwood 11-7 Monday night at Russom Field.
Dowagiac defeated Schoolcraft in the consolation contest.
Howard Township defeated Eastwood, 11-1, to win the championship.
In the 9-10 age bracket, Benton Harbor' 10-year-old All-Stars defeated Gobles, 6-2, to win the championship
The tournament, composed of 16 teams, was created by Dowagiac Little League so kids could play more baseball than a double-elimination tournament.
The two divisions were 7-8 year-olds and 9-10 year-olds. Both used a pitching machine.
Dowagiac was down early, but tied the score at three when Brady Froehlich scored. The team scored one more in the inning to grab a 4-3 lead.
In the top of the fourth, however, Eastwood had three straight hits to tie the score.
Eastwood kept their bats hot in the inning, scoring five runs in all to go up 8-4.
Dowagiac started another comeback in the fifth inning, scoring three quick runs to pull within 7-8.
That was all the team had, however, as they failed to score another run.
Eastwood added three insurance runs in the top of the sixth and won the game 11-7. Dowagiac's run ended after the team headed into the semifinals undefeated in the tournament.