Dowagiac falls to Niles; second title game tonight
Published 2:13 am Thursday, July 20, 2006
By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Tyler Knisely tossed a four-hitter to force a second championship game in the Michigan Little League District 15 Senior Baseball tournament.
Niles F.O.P. defeated Dowagiac 7-1 Wednesday night at Russom Fields to force tonight's second championship contest.
That game is slated to start at 6 p.m.
Niles wasted no time jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the top half of the first inning on previously undefeated Dowagiac.
Dowagiac cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the first, but that would be as close as the contest would get.
Niles added four runs in the third inning to break open the close contest.
In the top half of the seventh, Niles added an insurance run to complete the scoring.
Knisely worked six innings, striking out six. Zach Bloss worked the scoreless seventh inning for Niles.
Taylor Ort and Bloss each had two hits for Niles to pace the All-Stars offensively. Both were 2-for-4 at the place. Tyler Jackson added a double.
Niles' other hits came from Jake Harris and Dustin Zimmerman.
Dowagiac used a trio of pitchers in the contest with Jason Fryman starting and taking the loss. Shaun Bruens and Reggie Fritz also took the hill for Dowagiac.
In other games on Wednesday night, Constantine defeated Vicksburg 9-8 to advance to tonight's Junior Baseball Division contest in Niles against Centreville.
In 11-year-old All-Star action, Niles defeated White Pigeon 18-1 to move on to tonight's contest against Schoolcraft in Centreville.
In a pair of 9-10 Baseball Division games, Mendon defeated Vicksburg 12-4 and Coldwater edged Decatur, 5-4.
Schoolcraft will face host Mattawan Gold tonight, while Mendon will take on Coldwater. That game is also in Mattawan.
All games begin at 6 p.m.