By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
The Dowagiac varsity baseball team will be looking for its fourth consecutive winning season when it finally opens play on Monday, April 4 against Decatur.
The Chieftains, who were 18-16 in 2004 and 4-8 in the Big 16 Conference West Division, was scheduled to open its season on Saturday at the South Haven Invitation, however, due to damage to the field that tournament was canceled.
Veteran Dowagiac coach Andy Kruger returns five players from last year's squad.
Back for the Chieftains are seniors Rob Duszynski, Schuyler File, Jesse Cox and Scott Wilkerson. Also back is sophomore David Stuppy.
New to the squad will be Jordan Huey, Brandon Simmons, JoAngel Goins, Nick File, Mike Kasper, Matt Dodson, Jamie Simpson and Jake Cox.
Dowagiac must replace the likes of Richie Burling, Eddie Campbell, Jeff Cooper, Davey Moran, Chris Singleton, Brandon Zachary, Travis Reed and Rod Laylin.
As usual, pitching and defense will be the key for the Chieftains.
Cooper, Moran, Singleton and Zachary handled most of the pitching duties for the Chieftains and combined for 14 of Dowagiac's 18 victories.
Wilkerson is the lone returning pitcher. Wilkerson appeared in 12 games last year and pitched 40 innings. He had a record of 4-3 with an ERA of 5.08 with 23 strike outs and eight walks.
Cox and Wilkerson when not on the mound will hold down the middle of the infield for the Chieftains at shortstop and second base respectively. Stuppy, who started in left field in 2004 is moving to center field to replace the departed Campbell.
Cox hit .273 last season with two doubles, two home runs and 24 RBIs. Wilkerson hit .314 with two doubles and 12 RBIs. Stuppy hit .212 with six doubles and eight RBIs.
Duszynski and Goins will share time at third base, while Kasper will handle the duties at first base. Simpson, File, Ferrier and Jake Cox will also be in the outfield.
Simmons replaces Reed behind the plate in 2005.
Duszynski hit .228 with a double and seven RBIs last season. File hit .214.