By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
NILES - 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.
First game
Dowagiac 100 000 1 - 2 3 0
Brandywine 002 412 x - 9 8 0
Matt Dodson (L,1-1), Kory Bridges (W)
top hitters Dow Jamie Simpson solo hr (2)
2B: Alex Newman (B), Zach Bennett (B), Justin Ely (B)
HR: Jamie Simpson (D)
Second game
Dowagiac 301 430 0 - 11 10 3
Brandywine 040 000 0 - 4 5 1
Jake Cox (W, 4-3), Jake Harris (L)
2B: Josh Atwood (B), Kevin Curran (B)
3B: Jordan Huey (D)
HR: Jamie Simpson (D) 2
Varsity records: Dowagiac 11-19, Brandywine 17-19