Champions once again
Published 7:22 pm Monday, May 16, 2005
By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The Dowagiac varsity softball team survived an upset bid by LaPorte (Ind.) in the first game and then shut out the host school to win the Clay Invitational on Saturday.
Dowagiac (21-4) edged LaPorte in the first game, 6-5, holding off a last inning rally by the Lady Sli-cers.
The Chieftains, ranked No. 10 in the latest coaches poll, blanked the Lady Colonials, 4-0.
The Chieftains were the defending champions.
Dowagiac had nine hits in the first game and then 11 hits in the championship contest.
Dowagiac grabbed a 2-0 lead after a half inning of play against LaPorte, but the Lady Slicers tied the score with two runs in the bottom of the first.
Dowagiac grabbed a 4-2 lead with two more runs in the second before LaPorte cut the lead to 3-2 with a run in the bottom of teh third, however, Dowagiac scored single runs in the fourth and seventh innings to build a three-run lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
LaPorte scored twice and had the tying and winning run on base in the seventh before the Chieftains finally shut down the Lady Slicers' upset bid.
Brittney Reist (9-2) allowed five runs on nine hits in the first game with nine strike outs and two walks.
Mandy Parish was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Lynne Zachary was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Reist was 2-for-3.
Lindsay Tyler singled and drove in a run for the Chieftains.
In the championship game Dowagiac scored a run in the first inning, two in the fourth inning and one in the fifth to account for its scoring.
Ashley Willis (8-2) tossed a three-hitter with nine strike outs. Willis did not walk a batter.
The Chieftains were led offensively by Kim Luthringer who went 3-for-3 with a double. Parish was also 3-for-3 with an RBI.
Dowagiac got a single and an RBI from Tyler and Amy Wood.
The Chieftains return to action on Tuesday when it faces defending Big 16 Conference West Division and Division 2 state champion Lakeshore.
The first game is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.
First game
Dowagiac 220 100 1 - 6 9 1
LaPorte 201 000 2 - 5 9 3
Brittney Reist (W, 9-2), Bre Smith (L)
2B: Amanda Lindsey (L)
3B: Mandy Hindsley (L)
Championship game
Clay 000 000 0 - 0 3 3
Dowagiac 100 210 x - 4 11 3
Ashley Willis (W, 8-2), Scha Dickerson (L)
2B: Kim Luthringer (D)
Varsity record: Dowagiac 21-4