By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
The tunes ups are over and the Dowagiac varsity softball team can finally set its sights on defending Big-16 Conference West Division champion Lakeshore.
The Chieftains (22-1, 8-0) swept a West Division doubleheader from visiting Niles Thursday afternoon, allowing just one hit over 13 innings.
Dowagiac also ran its consecutive streak of scoreless innings to 99.
The Chieftains got another no-hitter from Kelly Tomczak in the first game as they won 4-0. Tomczak struck out 11 and walked just one. Rachel Minikel had three of Dowagiac's seven hits and drove in a run. Stuppy doubled, while Brittney Reist singled and drove in two runs.
Kari Eckstein took the loss despite striking out five and not walking a batter.
Stuppy was a one-person show in the second game as she tossed a one-hitter with five strikeouts and a walk. At the plate Stuppy doubled and hit a grand slam to drive in five of Dowagiac's 10 runs.
Stuppy's grand slam was only the second one hit during Brooks' tenure as coach. The first one, hit by Lisa White, ironically, was also against Niles.
Dowagiac….4
Niles…………0
Niles 000 000 0 -- 0 0 3
Dowagiac 001 120 x -- 4 7 0
Kelly Tomczak (W, 12-0); Kari Eckstein (L, 3-7)
2B: Jenna Stuppy
Dowagiac….10
Niles…………..0
Niles 000 000 -- 0 1 2
Dowagiac 002 512 -- 10 14 1
Jenna Stuppy (W, 9-1); Crystal Crouch (L, 5-5)
2B: Stuppy (D), Mandy Parish (D)
HR: Stuppy (D)