Dutch start weekend baseball series with win
PELLA — A balanced day by the Central College baseball team’s offense produced enough runs for a 5-2 win over Nebraska Wesleyan Friday in the first of three games between the two teams this weekend.
In six of its eight innings at bat, Central (11-11, 5-6 American Rivers Conference) led off with a hit. Four times that leadoff runner would come around to a score on the Prairie Wolves (10-15, 2-9 conference).
“We got guys on early in the inning and then we were able to move them around in different ways,” coach Casey Klunder said. “We had pretty quality at-bats and were able to take advantage of some of their mistakes.”
Shortstop Kasey Carter (freshman, Prole, Indianola HS) and left fielder Chase Martin (sophomore, Port St. Lucie, Florida, John Carroll HS) led the way for Central with a pair of singles each. Second baseman Logan McCoy (sophomore, Galva, Alta-Aurelia HS) and designated hitter Garrett Finley (senior, DeWitt, Central DeWitt HS) each had doubles.
“For being just a freshman, Kasey is a real mature hitter,” Klunder said. “Two hits is no small feat against a pitcher of that caliber.”
Right fielder Colton DeRocher (junior, Sioux City, East HS) reached 30 RBI on the season with a pair of RBI groundouts.
Starting pitcher Chance Dreyer (freshman, Davenport, Assumption HS) struck out four in six innings of work. He allowed just one earned run while walking four and giving up three hits.
“It’s tough to win Friday night games,” Klunder said. “It’s even tougher to do it as a freshman in this conference. He executed his pitches well, but his pitch count got a little too high with some walks.”
Sam Staley (senior, Cedar Rapids, Jefferson HS) had three hitless innings of relief for his first save of the season. He walked two and allowed one unearned run.
“No moment is too big for him,” Klunder said. “He’s a team first guy. He’s put it in the time and he’s done it the right way. He’s continued to improve and that’s what we need.”
The series continues Saturday for the Dutch and the Prairie Wolves with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
