By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
DOWAGIAC – It was worth the wait for the Niles varsity baseball team.
The Vikings finally opened up their season on Tuesday with a split against previously undefeated Dowagiac.
Niles (1-1) won the opening game 5-2 behind the two-hit pitching of Jake Ferguson.
The Chieftains (5-1) rebounded to take the nightcap, 7-2. The second game was shortened to just five innings by darkness.
"We played poorly the first game," Dowagiac coach Andy Kruger said. "My hitters were not ready to swing the bat and were not aggressive. Our pitchers did not get ahead in the count and Niles capitalized on our mistakes. We did not capitalize on theirs."
Niles jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Dowagiac starter Jake Cox. The Vikings scored their first run on a wild pitch.
Niles increased its lead to 4-0 with a three-run third inning. The Vikings completed their scoring with a run in the fifth inning.
Dowagiac averted the shutout with a two-run fourth inning.
Ferguson (1-0) worked four innings, allowing two runs on two hits with five strikeouts.
Cox (2-1) worked three innings, allowing four runs on four hits with a strikeout.
Tony Saviano worked two innings of relief, allowing one run without giving up a hit. Jamie Simpson also pitched two innings.
Niles' Tim Hardy was 2-for-4, while D.J. Wolnik doubled.
Simpson, who doubled, led Dowagiac offensively. Kyle Prak added an RBI single.
It was all Dowagiac in the nightcap.
The Chieftains scored twice in the first and fourth innings and tallied three times in the third inning.
Niles scored both of its runs in the third inning.
Fryman (3-0) worked the first three innings, allowing two runs on three hits with a pair of strikeouts.
Stover worked the final two innings.
Dowagiac banged out eight hits in the second game, led by Jake Kling, who was 2-for-2 with a double.
Keith Prak added a two-run double, while Tim Bartee doubled and drove in a run. The Chieftains also got two hits from Mike Kasper.
Nick Hartman took the loss in relief of Niles starter Zach Bloss.
Niles finished the game with four hits.
Dowagiac is scheduled to host Coloma in a single game at Rotary Park beginning at 5 p.m.
Niles will be in action on Thursday as it hosts Portage Northern.
First game
Niles 103 010 0 – 5 5 1
Dowagiac 000 200 0 – 2 2 0
WP – Jake Ferguson (N)
LP – Jake Cox (D)
Save – Mikie Simpson (N)
2B: D.J. Wolnik (N), Jamie Simpson (D)
Second game
Niles 002 00 – 2 4 3
Dowagiac 203 2x – 7 8 1
WP – Jason Fryman (D)
LP – Nick Hartman (N)
2B: Keith Prak (D), Tim Bartee (D), Jake Kling (D)
Records: Niles 1-1; Dowagiac 5-1