Chieftains now 25-4

Published 8:18 pm Wednesday, May 25, 2005

By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
The Dowagiac varsity softball team raised its season record to 25-4 with a sweep of visiting Battle Creek Lakeview Tuesday afternoon in Big 16 Conference non-divisional action.
The Chieftains, ranked No. 6 in the latest Division 2 coaches poll, won the first game 10-0 in five innings, while it took the nightcap, 5-1.
Senior catcher Mandy Parish went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs to lead the Chieftains offensively.
Junior Holly Lowe was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs, while sophomore Brittany Bruens was 2-for-4 with a double.
Senior Amy Wood was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Senior Brittney Reist finished with a double and an RBI.
The Chieftains finished with 11 hits.
Reist (11-2) was the winning pitcher as she went the distance, tossing a one-hitter with nine strike outs. Reist did not walk a batter.
In the second game Ashley Willis went the distance, tossing a two-hitter with six strike outs and three walks.
Dowagiac finished with six hits.
Tyler doubled and drove in a run in the nightcap, while Kim Luthringer, Parish, Lowe and Ashley Willis each had a hit and an RBI.
"We are continuing to play good softball," Dowagiac coach Mike Behnke said. "We drove the ball hard to the alleys tonight for a lot of doubles and Mandy connected on her first homer of the year. I was a little worried of a let down because our last game was a week ago against Lakeshore but the girls came and got the job done. We will need to continue that focus the rest of the week at games and practice as we get ready for districts."
Dowagiac, now 25-4 overall, will host Bridgman in a non-conference doubleheader today beginning at 4 p.m.
JV softball
The Dowagiac junior varsity softball team swept host Battle Creek Lakeview Tuesday afternoon.
The Chieftains (26-3) took the opening game 12-7 and then won the nightcap, 10-4.
Allison Frontczak had a double to lead the Chieftains offensively.
Amelia First and Lindsey Truitt each had three hits, while Lori Key, Alywsha Newman and Kathy Lindt each had two hits.
Key (11-3) was the winning pitcher as she scattered nine hits and struck out eight.
In the second game Katie Roach (15-0) tossed a five-hitter with nine strike outs.
Katie Hewitt had an inside-the-park home run and three singles to pace Dowagiac offensively.
Roach and Key both doubled, while Key also had three singles. Roach ended up with two hits.
Dowagiac returns to action today when it travels to Bridgman for a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.