By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Dowagiac's varsity softball team will roll into Comstock with a high-powered offense and solid defense.
Throw into that mix a trio of talented pitchers and it is easy to see why the Chieftains are the No. 4 ranked team in Division 2.
Dowagiac (32-4) will face Gull Lake (22-17) in the second game on Saturday at Comstock High School. The game is slated to begin at 11:45 a.m.
The No. 3 ranked Lady Colts (34-4) will face Three Rivers in the opening game at 10 a.m.
The championship game is set for 30 minutes after the second semifinal.
Senior All-Stater Mandy Parish leads the Chieftain offense with a .431 batting average, 11 doubles, two triples, one home run and 43 RBIs. Senior Brittney Reist is hitting .378 with 12 doubles, three triples, three home run sand 37 RBIs.
Kim Luthringer is hitting .366 with nine doubles, one triple, one home run and 25 RBIs. Lindsay Tyler is hitting .352 with seven doubles, two triples and 23 RBIs.
Holly Lowe is hitting .348 with three doubles, a triple and 31 RBIs.
Reist and Ashley Willis are 15-2 and 12-2 in the circle for the Chieftains respectively.
Reist has an earned run average of 0.62 and had eight shut outs on the season. She has struck out 126 batters while walking just 13.
Willis' ERA is 0.92 with five shut outs. Willis has struck out 96 batters and walked 17.
Maureen Pickar has won all five of her starts with and has not given up an earned run.