Central closes Florida softball trip with wins
Central College
KISSIMMEE, FLA.—The games couldn’t have been more different but the results were equally satisfying for the No. 17 Central College softball team as it closed its five-day, 10-day run at the Rebel Spring Games with a pair of victories Wednesday.
Pitching, defense and daring baserunning were the story in a 2-1 win over No. 24-rated Kean (N.J.) in the morning. But in the afternoon several productive bats helped overcome some fielding misadventures as the Dutch outslugged hard-hitting Rhodes (Tenn.) 12-9.
Central’s triumph over Kean had a familiar feel as the Dutch rallied with their traditional small-ball attack. Trailing 1-0 in the fifth inning, first baseman Abbie Voas (sophomore, Chanhassen, Minn.) beat out an infield hit. With two outs, Voas improved her team-best stolen base total to nine by swiping second and then third before scoring the tying run when right fielder Sarah Bowen (junior, New Sharon, North Mahaska HS) followed with an infield hit. Bowen promptly stole second and surprised the Cougars by racing all the way home on yet another infield hit by third baseman Sadie Baugher (freshman, Norwalk).
Pitcher Karly Olson (junior, Winterset) came up big in the circle, allowing only a third-inning run while scattering three hits and striking out four to overcome six walks, including one intentional.
“(Scoring) was really tough in the first game,” coach George Wares said. “Not only were we not scoring, we were not even getting many chances. But defensively we were fine and we kept it close, which was important. Then all of a sudden we got some things going. We got a couple of infield hits and they obviously struggled with our running game. It was a big win. As we said before, any win is big for us right now.”
Central finished with six hits, including a pair by Baugher.
Conversely, high-powered Rhodes came out swinging, striking for two first-inning runs and threatening for more as Dutch starter Trisha Smith (senior, New Hampton) gave way to Annie DeVries (sophomore, Eldridge, North Scott HS).
But Central answered with a six-run second inning that included some fielding misplays along with continued aggressiveness on the basepaths. The Dutch added four more tallies to take a surprising 10-2 lead in the top of the third inning, yet it was clear that the Rhodes offensive attack made even that margin less than secure. The Lynx countered with a run in the third, four in the fourth and another in the fifth.
“We knew (Rhodes) was going to hit the ball well and they came out and got those two runs, but what a response (for Central) to come back with six runs the next inning,” Wares said. “I was glad we were able to respond offensively because we just weren’t going to shut them down like we did some other teams we have down here.”
A Rhodes pitching change quieted the Dutch bats until the sixth, when Voas belted Central’s first homer of the young season.
“Not that we need to hit home runs, but it makes you feel better to know that you can do it,” Wares said. “The big thing in the first game is that we didn’t hit the ball hard. But in the second game, even our outs were hit hard. That’s a good sign.”
Central added another run in the top of the seventh for a 12-8 advantage. But Smith, who returned to the game in the fifth and seemed to regain her footing, allowed a one-out seventh-inning run and Wares brought Olson in to settle the issue and she quickly did so, retiring the next two hitters to notch her first Central save.
Smith threw 2.0 innings overall, allowing three runs on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts, while DeVries went 4.1 innings, yielding six runs on eight hits. However, the pitchers were hampered by four Dutch errors.
“I thought Annie gave us some valuable innings and Trish came back and did OK,” Wares said. “But realistically, we need to get more consistency from them. That’s gong to be a big key for us.”
Central outhit Rhodes 13-12 and Olson played a big role in that as well, with three hits and two RBIs as the designated player. Central also got two hits from shortstop Paige Schreiner (senior, Ottumwa), including a two-run double, the squad’s lone extra-base hit other than the Voas blast.
Freshman catcher Kylie Olson (freshman, Mapleton, Minn., Maple River HS) also had two hits and two runs scored.
Unfortunately, the reason Olson was in the game was that starting catcher Emily Walton (sophomore, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) was injured on a foul tip in the seventh inning of the opener and early indications are that she will likely be sidelined for at least a few weeks. That makes an already youthful Central lineup even younger.
Olson got through the initial test.
“We tried to simplify things for her a little and it went fine,” Wares said. “I thought it was good that she caught all three pitchers. I was happy with her”
Wares said losing Walton is a blow but the Dutch have had to endure the loss of key performers to injury multiple times in recent years.
“We’re going to miss Emily,” he said. “We’re not as good without here but we can still win a lot of games without her. We’ve been there before, losing Abbey Strajack and Jordan Overland a couple years ago, and last year with Katie Canney and Paige Heesch. But we’re really disappointed for Emily.”
Wares said one bright spot is that the time off will perhaps allow another injury Walton is nursing to heal.
“Hopefully she’ll come back 100 percent,” Wares said.
It’s been a grueling stretch for the Dutch, who journeyed to Columbus, Ga. for the NFCA Division III Leadoff Classic following Wednesday’s games. The squad has an opportunity to practice Thursday, but it’s primarily a much-needed day off before the team competes in the elite 24-team field. Central opens in pool play with Friday games against Piedmont (Ga.) at noon (Eastern Time) and No. 6 Texas Lutheran at 5 p.m. with another game Saturday at 10 a.m. with Western Connecticut State. Teams are then seeded into one of three eight-team brackets. Bracket play begins with a game Saturday and at least one game Sunday.
But first the Dutch need rest.
“We’re definitely ready for a day off,” said Wares, who is content with his young club’s nine wins thus far after losing 10 players from 2015 to graduation.
“The players are smart, they know the competition we’ve seen so far hasn’t always been great, but this is a good start for us. “
Audio webcasts for all of Central’s games in Georgia will be provided via www.kniakrls.com with the voice of the Dutch, Trevor Castle, making the extended road trip to call the action.
Central 17th—Central climbed three spots to No. 17 in this week’s NFCA Division III coaches’ poll. The rankings were as of Sunday’s action and obviously this weekend’s Georgia tourney will have a significant impact on future rankings.
Iowa Conference rvial Luther is No. 9. No other league school is rated.
