By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
In their final home game of the season, the Dowagiac varsity softball team, led by its seniors, swept visiting Bridgman.
The Chieftains, ranked No. 6 in the latest Division 2 poll, won the opening game of the non-conference doubleheader 11-0 in five innings. The Chieftains turned in a repeat performance in the nightcap, winning 11-0.
The sweep left Dowagiac with a 27-4 overall record.
Senior Brittney Reist (12-2) tossed a four-hitter with five strike outs in the first game.
Senior Mandy Parish was 2-for-2 with a pair of RBIs.
Junior Kim Luthringer was 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and an RBI. Holly Lowe singled and drove in three runs, as did Lindsay Tyler. Reist and senior Valerie Johnson both singled and drove in a run.
In the second game Maureen Pickar (5-0) tossed a three-hitter with 10 strike outs in the second game.
Reist, in her final home at-bat of her high school career, hit a two-run home run that ended the game and gave her a school record 10 career round trippers.
Reist finished the game 3-for-3 with a double and five RBIs. Luthringer was 2-for-3 with three RBIs, while Parish was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Senior Amy Wood was 2-for-3.
JV softball
The Dowagiac junior varsity softball team swept Bridgman to finish the year at 28-3.
Dowagiac won the first game 8-1 and then the nightcap, 6-0.
Katie Roach (15-0) tossed a two-hitter with nine strike outs in the first game. Roach was also the winner in the nightcap as she tossed a one-hitter with eight strike outs.
Katie Hewitt singled and tripled, while Sara Ausra and Beth Williams both had two hits in the first game. Roach tripled and singled twice in the second game. Molly Seurynck added three hits.