Dowagiac takes winning streak to seven games
Posted 10:58 am Friday, May 26, 2023
- Dowagiac’s softball team has been ripping cover off the ball during a seven-game winning streak. Freshman Marlie Carpenter has four home runs during the streak and now has seven for the season, just behind her sister Sierra Carpenter’s record of nine as a freshman. (Leader’s file photo)
DECATUR — Dowagiac’s softball team will head to the red-hot Division 2 District in Edwardsburg after winning seven straight games.
The Chieftains, who were 10-13 when they began their winning streak, capped the regular season Thursday afternoon with a sweep of No. 8 ranked (Division 4) Decatur. Dowagiac defeated the Raiders 11-6 and 10-6 to finish the regular season with a 17-13 record.
The Chieftains, who will take on district host Edwardsburg at around noon on June 3, have improved in all areas, but especially hitting.
Dowagiac had outscored his opponents 104-36 during his winning streak. The Chieftains have not only been hitting the ball throughout their lineup, but they’ve also been getting timely hits and ripping cover off the ball.
Dowagiac has 29 doubles, two triples and seven home runs in that stretch. Freshman Marlie Carpenter has four of those home runs and seven on the season, two fewer than her sister Sierra Carpenter, who hit seven of hers in her freshman year in 2019.
“Our bats are still hot,” Dowagiac’s coach Mike Behnke said. “We hit up and down the line again. We got the pitching when we needed it and made some great defensive plays when we needed it. The regular season is over and we will be preparing all of next week for the districts on Saturday.”
In the opening game against the Raiders, Dowagiac had a career-high eight hits.
Trailing 5-3 going into the top of the fifth, the Chieftains used consecutive four-run innings to take the lead. Decatur would score a run in the bottom of the fifth, but was unable to keep up with Dowagiac’s offensive pace.
Aubrey Busby went 2 for 4 with a double, homer and four RBIs, while Carpenter had a two-run homer.
Rebecca Guernsey, who is 5-0 during the Chieftains’ winning streak, picked up the win as she went.
In the nightcap, Dowagiac had 10 hits, including two by Busby, who also drove in a pair of runs. Ella Parker and Caleigh Wimberley doubled for the Chieftains, while Carpenter had another two-run homer. Guernsey chipped in a triple.
Addie Wilson worked the first six innings for the win. Guernsey came on in the seventh to end the game.
