By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
To say the Dowagiac varsity baseball team has some talent on the mound might be an understatement.
Quality pitching is one of the reasons why Dowagiac will be a contender in its first season in the Wolverine Conference.
"I would like to think so," answered Dowagiac coach Andy Kruger when asked about his pitching staff. "We have to actually prove it though. What they did last year was great, but you have to do it again and again. We have to continue to work to get better."
All-Big 16 West Division pitchers Jake Cox and Jason Fryman will lead the pitching staff.
The two helped Dowagiac to an impressive 23-7-1 record last season.
Dowagiac also returns first team all-division selection Jamie Simpson, and honorable mention picks Nick File, Matt Dodson, Kyle Prak and Mike Kasper.
Kasper was a first team Academic All-State selection in 2006. Simpson was all-region and all-division.
"On paper everything looks great," Kruger said. "But we have to go out and prove it. I have never really been in this situation before. We have a lot of guys back who have put in the time. They have worked hard to be the best they can be."
Dowagiac returns seniors D.J. Edgerly and Tony Saviano. The Chieftains also added former Chieftain Tim Bartee, who transfered to Coloma after his freshman year and returned to Dowagiac last fall. The Chieftains also return junior Keith Prak.
Newcomers hoping to make an impact are juniors Troy Stover, Jake Kling and Alex Withorn.
Sophomore Tim DeRyder will split time between the varsity and junior varsity squads.
Dowagiac must replace four players from last year. They were JoAngel Goins, Jordan Huey, Brandon Simmons and David Stuppy.
Stuppy and Simmons were both all-division. Stuppy was also all-district.
Dowagiac knows it has a strong pitching staff and Kruger expects his team to play well defensively.
"Hopefully we have the offense to go along with the defense," he said.
Dowagiac opens its season on Saturday at the South Haven Invitational against Elmwood Park (Ill.). The game will begin at 11 a.m.