Dutch baseball squad struggles in Iowa debut
Central Dutch Athletics
IOWA CITY — After a promising start to the season on an 11-game trip through Florida, the Central College baseball team struggled in its first games back in its home state by losing 16-5 and 7-1 to Coe College on Saturday
A wet field moved the games from the Kohawks home field in Cedar Rapids to Duane Banks Field on the campus of the University of Iowa in Iowa City. The Kohawks (12-1, 2-0 American Rivers Conference) made themselves at home against the Dutch (10-3, 0-2 conference).
“Coe is a really good team,” coach Matt Schirm said. “We didn’t play very well and when you do that against a team like Coe, this is the result you are going to get.”
In the 16-5 opening loss, Central had a disastrous second inning as the Kohawks crossed the plate 10 times. All of Coe’s runs came in the first four innings and Central did not score until the fifth.
Zach Edwards (junior, Des Moines, Lincoln HS) took the loss after allowing 10 earned runs and securing just three outs as the starter. Adam Carey (senior, Pella) tossed three innings in relief and allowed the final six runs. Freshman Ben Wallace (Knoxville) notched the final six outs.
“It was uncharacteristic for Zach,” Schirm said. “He didn’t have command of his pitches like he usually does and falling behind in the count. I’m sure Zach will come back from this.”
Shortstop Garrett Saunders (senior, Bonaparte, Van Buren HS) and catcher Trevor Kimm (junior, Urbandale) both had two hits in the opener and right fielder Tanner Wood (senior, Pella) had a three-run double.
“We did some good things offensively at times,” Schirm said.
The Dutch could only squeeze out a single run in the eighth frame of the nightcap. A Kimm double scored Coy Moore (senior, center fielder, Hamilton, Twin Cedars HS).
Starting pitcher Nick Long (junior, Marshalltown, East Marshall HS) gave up five runs, but only two earned, over six innings of work. Tyler Steward (sophomore, Norwalk) allowed two runs in two innings out of the bullpen.
Currently, the next contest on the schedule for the Dutch is a home game against Wartburg College on March 29 at 3 p.m. Friday’s game between Central and Coe was postponed and there is potential for rescheduling in the coming days.
