Dowagiac baseball, softball split with Rams

Published 6:24 am Tuesday, April 22, 2008

By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
DOWAGIAC – Defense, they say, wins championships.
A lack of it can cost you a game.
The Dowagiac varsity baseball team found that out the hard way on Monday afternoon at Rotary Park against South Haven.
The Chieftains committed four errors in the opening game and wound up on the wrong end of a 3-1 decision.
Dowagiac had five more errors in the second contest, but was able to overcome them by scoring 15 runs on 14 hits in a 15-4 victory.
Errors were not the only issue in the first game with the Rams.
Offensive production was much needed by the Chieftains in support of a stellar pitching performance from Jason Fryman, who dipped to 1-3 on the year.
Fryman struck out 12 and allowed just one earned run on four hits. He also walked just one batter.
"In game one, we did not give Jason Fyrman any run support," Dowagiac coach Andy Kruger said. "Jason did a super job of pitching by striking out 12."
The Chieftain managed just four hits off of South Haven's Nick Frank.
Jamie Simpson had a double, while Jake Cox, Fryman and Tim DeRyder collected the other three hits.
Things were different in the second game as hits and runs came early and often for the Chieftains.
Dowagiac scored three runs in the first innings, five in the third and fifth frames and a pair of runs in the fourth frame.
South Haven's runs came in the first three innings.
Tanner Melvin improved to 2-0 on the year by allowing three earned runs on three hits. Cody Cox relieved in the fifth and closed the door.
Dowagiac finished with 14 hits, including a home run by Simpson, a 4-for-4 performance by Jake Cox, including a double, and a two-run double by Alex Withorn.
The Chieftains also got a single and a double from Kyle Prak and two singles each from Fryman and Tim DeRyder.
"In game two, we played better offensively by getting 14 hits," Kruger said. Tanner Melvin did a nice job on the mound to get the win for us and Cody Cox threw a nice inning to finish the game. Right now the main problem is our defense. We need to start making the routine plays on a consistent basis."
Dowagiac will host Vicksburg on Wednesday when they host the Bulldogs at 4 p.m.
South Haven…4-0
Dowagiac…3-1
A three-run eighth inning of the opening game helped visiting South Haven to a split with Dowagiac in Wolverine Conference play on Monday afternoon.
The Lady Rams won the first game 4-3 in eight innings and Dowagiac took the nightcap 1-0.
"After a good week last week, we played pretty lethargic today, Dowagiac coach Mike Behnke said. "We were lazy on defense and the base paths and took lazy swings. I have to take some of the credit for that and get the girls more prepared for a game.
"I talked to coach (Andy) Kruger today and we both agreed that if you don't come ready to play in the Wolverine any team can beat you on any given day and I feel that happened to us tonight. The players and coaches both need to work harder and smarter to get ready for a good Vicksburg team on Wednesday," he added.
Dowagiac and South Haven were knotted at 1-1 after seven innings of play.
The Lady Rams (7-4, 3-1 Wolverine) scored three times in the top half of the eighth inning. Dowagiac scored a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame on a two-run home run by Brittany Gnatz.
Dowagiac finished with eight hits, led by Stephanie Grabemeyer, who was 3-for-3 with a double and a stolen base. Torie Lowe singled and drove in a run for the Chieftains.
Emily Gruber picked up the win for the Lady Rams.
Tara Sova (1-2) took the loss. She gave up three earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts.
Dowagiac (4-2, 3-1 Wolverine) scored its lone run in the fifth inning to earn a split.
The Chieftains managed just three hits off of Gruber.
Allison Frontczak doubled and scored the game's only run. Miranda East, who picked up the victory, singled and drove in Frontczak. Felicia Hood had the other Dowagiac hit.
East (3-0) tossed a four-hitter with four strikeouts. She did not walk a batter.
The Chieftains are back in action on Wednesday when they host defending conference co-champion Vicksburg.