The Dowagiac Elks Club’s Junior Golf Program will begin its 19th season June 19.
The program, which was started by former Dowagiac Mayor Dr. James Burke and Audrey Atkinson, is open to boys and girls ages 8 to 14.
The program meets once a week on Mondays at the Dowagiac Elks Club Golf Course. The cost is $50 per golfer. The program, which runs through the end of July, meets from 8:30 until 11:30 a.m.
This program teaches basic golf shots, golf rules and good golf etiquette. Most of the current Dowagiac Union High School golf team members got their start in this program.
There are a limited number of junior golf clubs available for beginners to use and a limited number of scholarships available. Contact Dick Morey for more information about the clubs and the scholarships at 424-5863.
At the end of the program, there is a tournament with trophies to age group winners and a luncheon. All participants also receive a framed certificate.
Sign up sheets are now available at the Elks Golf Course. You can contact the course at 782-3889.

Mangus top player
CHICAGO — Indiana University South Bend’s Chris Mangus (SR/Niles, Michigan) was named the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year as announced by the league office recently in conjution with the CCAC Tournament at Judson University.
The Niles native led the Titans in every major offensive category during the 2017-18 campaign.
Mangus, a senior first baseman, led or tied for the league lead in no fewer than five categories and ranked in the top 10 in nine of 11 offensive areas. His 19 home runs, 138 total bases, .873 slugging percentage and .515 on base average all topped the charts, while he shared RBI honors (66) with Trinity Christian College’s Stefano Belmonte.
He also ranked third in batting average (.411) and runs scored (50), fifth in walks (31) and eighth in hits (65).
Trine softball
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — Five members of the Trine softball team were named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region team, the organization announced Monday.
Kaylee Fox (Vermilion, Ohio) earned first team honors. Danielle Ray (Hamilton, Ohio), Makenna Hartline (Brandywine) and Carly Bachna (Elyria, Ohio) were named to the second team.
Catherine Porter (Canton) rounded out Trine’s selections as she was named to the third team.
Hartline followed up All-MIAA second team honors with an all-region nod in her collegiate rookie season. Hartline was named to the second team as a second baseman.
She ranks 14th in the nation with 11 home runs and has collected 38 RBIs.
Hartline is batting .308 with a .434 on-base percentage and .638 slugging percentage. She has had two six-RBI efforts this year, tied for fourth-most in a game in the Trine record books.
Bachna rounded out freshman earning all-region honors as the designated player selection on the all-region team. Bachna has socked 12 home runs to rank ninth in the nation, including two in the regional-opening victory over Greenville. She has knocked in 40 runs while batting a team-best .388 to go along with a .705 slugging percentage. Bachna has accumulated a highlight-reel of defensive plays this year and boasts a .947 fielding percentage at shortstop.

Porter earned the first all-region selection of her career to round out Trine’s selections. The team’s lone senior, Porter has caught every inning this year while leading an all-underclassman pitching staff to a 2.68 team ERA. Porter’s disciplined approach at the plate has resulted in a team-best .474 on-base percentage to go along with a .320 batting average. She has tied her career-high with five home runs and has driven in 30. Porter was a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection and has a chance to earn Academic All-America honors.
The Thunder will be seeking its second trip to the NCAA Division III Softball National Championships when the team hosts Wisconsin-Oshkosh in Super Regional action this weekend.
Trine needs two wins in three potential matchups to claim the second Super Regional title in program history and advance to the national finals. This year’s National Championships are being held in Oklahoma City.
First pitch between Trine and the Titans is scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday. The series is scheduled to conclude Saturday, with game one slated for 1 p.m.