By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
The Dowagiac varsity baseball team wrapped up a disappointing regular season Wednesday afternoon with a split against host Brandywine.
The Chieftains (11-19) dropped a 9-2 decision to the Bobcats (17-19) in the opening game, but rebounded for an 11-4 victory in the nightcap.
Dowagiac grabbed a 1-0 lead after one inning in the first game, but it was all Brandywine from there.
The Bobcats scored two runs in the third inning to take the lead and then scored four runs in the fourth, a run in the fifth and two more runs in the sixth to complete their scoring.
Dowagiac scored a run in the seventh.
Kory Bridges picked up the victory for the Bobcats as he worked six innings, allowing one run on two hits with two strike outs.
Brandywine finished with eight hits in the game, while Dowagiac managed just three hits off of two Brandywine pitchers.
Jamie Simpson homered for Dowagiac.
Matt Dodson (1-1) took the loss for the Chieftains as he worked three innings, allowing six runs on six hits with three strike outs.
Jamie Simpson pitched three innings, allowing three runs.
Brandywine finished with eight hits, led by Alex Newman, Zach Bennett and Justin Ely, all of whom doubled.
In the nightcap it was all Dowagiac.
The Chieftains scored three runs in the first innings, but the Bobcats came back in the bottom of the second and scored all four of its runs.
Dowagiac tied the game at 4-4 with a run in the third inning and then broke the game open with four runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth.
Jake Cox (4-3) picked up the victory as he went the distance, allowing four runs on five hits with three strike outs.
Jake Harris, who like Cox is a freshman, took the loss as he worked three innings in relief of Bridges, allowing eight runs on nine hits.
Bennett worked the final two innings for the Bobcats.
Simpson remained one of Dowagiac's hottest hitters as he went 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs.
Jordan Huey added a triple for the Chieftains.
Josh Atwood and Kevin Curran both doubled for the Bobcats.
Dowagiac will now begin preparation for its Division 2 pre-district contest on Tuesday, May 31 in Stevensville against No. 5 ranked St. Joseph.
The game is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.
The winner advances to face Edwardsburg on Saturday, June 4.
In the other half of the bracket, Niles will take on Lakeshore.
The Dowagiac junior varsity baseball team swept a non-conference doubleheader from visiting Brandywine Wednesday afternoon.
The Chieftains (18-10) won the opening game 8-7 and then took the nightcap, 11-2.
Jason Fryman picked up the victory in relief of starter Alex Withorn and Tyler First.
Fryman improved his record to 5-1 as he allowed one unearned run and struck out two.
Offensively for the Chieftains in the first game Tony Saviano went 2-for-2 with three RBIs.
First had a single and two RBIs, while Kyle Prak and Ryan Laylin both singled and drove in a run.
Jake Shelton drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
In the second game Reggie Fritz (2-0) picked up the victory with a complete game. Fritz scattered six hits and struck out two. He did not give up an earned run.
Jacob Kling singled and drove in two runs for the Chieftains, who also got a single and an RBI from Kyle Bailey.
Saviano drove in a pair of runs, while Ryan Laylin and Fritz both picked up RBIs.