By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
A pair of Dowagiac softball players hope to help make the District 15 Big League Softball team a regional champion this weekend.
Dowagiac's Kim Luthringer and Maureen Pickar aided in the All-Stars state championship victory this past weekend in Mattawan.
The District 15 All-Stars captured their third consecutive state title with an 8-2 victory over District 5.
District 5 forced a second championship game with a 4-3 victory in the first contest.
The District 15 All-Stars head to Pinery Park in Wyoming for the Central Regional tournament.
The winner of the regional will compete in the Big League World Series which will be held in Kalamazoo and hosted by Milwood Little League.
Pickar tossed a two-hitter to get the District 15 All-Stars into the championship game.
She will share pitching duties with Ashley Colpetsir of Colon, who has returned from vacation and will replace Rebecca Swartz from Mattawan, who has left for a family vacation.
Luthringer is playing center field for the All-Stars and is hitting the ball well according to coach Randy Verlin.
Decatur's Carly Vliek is also a member of the squad.
District 15 will play on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. against Indiana and then again at 7:30 p.m. against Illinois.
The team will then play against Wisconsin on Monday at 2 p.m. and then take on Michigan District 9 at 7 p.m.
The championship game is set for Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.