The Dowagiac softball team went 2-1 at its own Chieftain Invitational Saturday.

The Chieftains edged Bridgman 2-0 in the opening round before falling to Paw Paw in the second round 5-1.

Dowagiac rebounded from its first loss of the season to knock off Berrien Springs 8-3.

Against Bridgman, Alyssa Allen doubled for the Chieftains, while in the second game Kourtney Mitchell doubled.

Against Berrien Springs, Allen and Emily Roach were both 2-for-4 with a double. Roach also drove in two runs, as did Mitchell.

“With the exception of one inning against Paw Paw, I thought we played well today,” Dowagiac coach Mike Behnke said. “We beat a quality team and good pitcher in Bridgman and had a very good Paw Paw team on the ropes in the sixth inning, but weren’t able to make a couple of plays and they made us pay as good teams do. We were able to rebound from that tough loss to beat Berrien so all in all I was happy with our effort today.”

Niles also went 2-1 on the day, falling to Paw Paw in the first round 5-4 before blanking Berrien Springs 14-0 and Bridgman 13-0.

No individual statistics were provided for the Vikings.

“Overall I’m happy today with how we played,” Niles coach Ryan Frontczak said. “I felt that our defense was outstanding our girls really played aggressive on the field that’s been our focus this off season we had girls diving all over the place. My one concern going into today was our hitting when you go into your first game without even a scrimmage. I kinda knew it was gonna take some time.

“In the Paw Paw game it kinda showed. We finally go to their pitcher in the later innings. I feel we finally made the adjustments we had to make and hit well the rest of the day. We played pretty sound softball the rest of the afternoon. Every girl we brought did some real positive things today. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy but not satisfied we need to keep improving each day we have to just keep getting better.”

 

Chieftain Invitational

First game

Bridgman       000     000     0 – 0 5 2

Dowagiac        002     000     x – 2 2 0

Taylor Hulett (W) and Kourtney Mitchell; Candice Crowder (L) and Madelynne Keller

2B: Beka Enders (B), Alyssa Allen (D)

 

Paw Paw 5, Niles 4

(Complete box unavailable)

 

Second game

Paw Paw        000     005     0 – 5 7 1

Dowagiac        100     000     0 – 1 5 2

K. Bowen (W) and M. Earl; Sabrina Ruiz (L) and Kourtney Mitchell

2B: Mitchell (D)

HR: Earl (PP)

 

Niles 14, Berrien Springs 0

(Complete box unavailable)

 

Third game

Berrien           002     001     0 – 3 7 4

Dowagiac        106     001     x – 8 9 2

Alyssa Allen (W) and Kourtney Mitchell; Caitlin Weaver (L) and Jesse Forraht

2B: Allen (D), Emily Roach (D), Forraht (BS), Weaver (BS)

 

Niles 13, Bridgman 0

(Complete box unavailable)