Central needs late rally for softball split
Central College
PELLA — A five-run sixth-inning rally prevented a disappointing day from turning disastrous as the Central College softball team rebounded from a 3-1 stumble against the University of Dubuque with an 8-3 victory Friday.
Surprising Dubuque (12-14 overall, 4-2 Iowa Conference) was threatening to take over sole possession of second place in the league. After knocking off Central in the opener, the Spartans knotted the second game, 3-3, with a run in the fifth inning.
But the Dutch (24-7 overall, 5-1 conference), frustrated most of the day at the plate, finally broke loose in the sixth with five runs on four hits, getting the first two tallies without the ball leaving the infield.
That made a winner of relief pitcher Annie DeVries (freshman, Eldridge, North Scott HS). DeVries (4-1) yielded a run on three hits with no walks or strikeouts in 3.1 innings. She followed starter Trisha Smith (junior, New Hampton), who was charged with two unearned runs on three hits with a walk and no strikeouts in 3.2 innings. Second baseman Abbey Strajack (senior, Davenport, Assumption HS) delivered an RBI bunt single and scored while first baseman Kaitlyn Matzen (senior, Manly, Central Springs HS) and right fielder Sarah Bowen (sophomore, New Sharon, North Mahaska HS) also had run-scoring singles.
Central had bolted to a 3-0 first-inning lead without a hit, capitalizing on four straight walks and a two-run error.
A late comeback bid in the opener was not as productive. The Dutch were blanked on one hit through six innings by Dubuque hurler Megan Loes (3-3). But Strajack slapped an RBI single through the middle in the seventh inning and Central had the bases loaded with one out. However, a Whitney Sowers (senior, Marshalltown) line drive that was dropped by the shortstop turned into a game-ending play with a toss to third base for a force out and then a tag at home plate.
Coach George Wares said in the seventh inning, the Dutch finally displayed the sense of urgency they lacked earlier.
“We felt we had the right people up,” he said. “Whitney (Sowers) hit it hard. It was just an unfortunate break.”
Loes finished with a two-hitter but walked eight batters—the Spartans issued 15 free passes on the day. However, Wares said that wildness indirectly stymied Central’s traditional running game.
“It’s hard to play small ball when the ball isn’t around the plate,” he said. “That puts the hitters in a tough spot. And their catcher has a pretty good arm, so it was hard to get a straight steal.”
Wares also gave Loes credit.
“We did not have very good at-bats,” he said. “It was frustrating. But (Loes) had a pretty good drop and we were not very good against it.”
Mallory Schulenberg (senior, Kansas City, Mo., St. Pius X HS) gave up three runs on nine hits in the loss. Schulenberg (9-5) walked none and struck out four.
“I thought Mallory pitched pretty well,” Wares said. “And Trish (Smith) wasn’t bad.”
Strajack had three hits for the day with two walks while Matzen had two hits and two runs scored in the second game.
The one thing that did put a smile on Wares’ face Friday was the return of senior center fielder Paige Heesch (Titonka, WCLT HS). A three-year starter, Heesch had not played since
March 14 due to multiple injuries.
“You have to feel good for her,” Wares said. “She’s not 100 percent yet but if she can get back completely, even though she’s not necessarily a great offensive player, she gives us a pretty tough one-two at the top of the lineup (behind Strajack) with her speed.”
Heesch had a single, two walks and scored two runs in Friday’s second game.
Also getting closer to full strength is Katie Canney (senior, Adel, ADM HS). The team’s starting catcher, Canney was sidelined after taking a wicked foul ball to the facemask March 28. She had returned for a few at-bats last Saturday at Wartburg and started Friday’s games in right field.
“She wasn’t ready to get behind the plate, which is understandable because she took a pretty good shot,” Wares said. “But we obviously want to have her bat in the lineup.”
There’s little time for the Dutch to anguish over Friday’s split as about 13 hours after leaving the field, they hit the road Saturday for a 2 p.m. league doubleheader at Loras College. It’s a quick turnaround for the Duhawks (13-13 overall, 2-4 conference) as well. They had to make the trek back to Dubuque Friday night after a doubleheader at Buena Vista. Loras saw a seventh-inning lead slip away in a 5-4 defeat against the Beavers but answered with a 6-3 victory in the second game.
“We’re not going to use it as an excuse,” Wares said of the demanding weekend schedule. “The coaches will probably be tired but the players are 18-, 19- and 20-years old. They can handle it.”
Saturday’s games will be broadcast on KRLS-FM (92.1) radio with play-by-play from the voice of the Dutch, Trevor Castle.
Heavy hearts—It’s been a somber week for the Dutch and for Wares in particular as his mother, Gertrude Wares, passed away Wednesday at age 82. A memorial service will be conducted Sunday afternoon at the Pleasantville Church of Christ.
