Baugher slam caps Central softball explosion
Central Dutch Athletics
INDIANOLA—Exploding for two decisive innings, the Central College softball team turned an early deficit into an American Rivers Conference-opening road sweep at Simpson College Sunday.
Trailing 2-1 in the fifth inning of the opener, the Dutch (12-4 overall, 2-0 conference) rallied for four runs to fuel a 6-3 victory, then used a 10-run third inning of the nightcap for an 11-0, five-inning triumph.
“We just stayed with it,” coach George Wares said. “You felt like we were going to eventually break through and we did.”
On-base machine center fielder Sara Tallman (junior, Pella) reached safely in all eight trips to the plate on the day on four hits, three walks and an error. Meanwhile left fielder Shaye Witte (junior, West Des Moines, Waukee HS), in her first action since being injured on the team’s spring-break trip to Arizona, ripped five hits, including three doubles, scoring three runs and driving in two. Tallman upped her season batting average to a scorching .533 with Witte at .471. Tallman also stole two bases, giving her 13 on the year.
“Shaye is still not 100 percent but she’s swinging it well,” Wares said. “She’s not just bunting and slapping, she’s driving the ball.”
But the day’s biggest blast was a one-out, third-inning grand slam in the second game by right fielder Sadie Baugher (senior, Eddyville, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont HS). It was the second plate appearance of the inning for Baugher, who had sacrificed earlier, and she delivered her second career home run to highlight a 10-run, nine-hit eruption.
Central was outhit 7-6 in the opener. But after giving up solo home runs in the first two innings, pitcher Mariah Fritz (senior, Tama, East Marshall HS) took charge. Fritz (5-4) gave up three runs in seven innings on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
The second game was all Central. Fritz and Danielle Riley (senior, Afton, East Union HS) each gave up two hits in splitting five innings. Fritz walked three in 2.2 innings while Riley (5-0) walked one and struck out one in 2.1. Central outhit Simpson 14-4 as the Storm (13-9 overall, 0-2 conference) used four pitchers.
Second baseman Kaitlyn Andresen (junior, Davenport, Assumption HS) had three hits and three RBIs in the second game. She’s hitting .435 and is the team RBI leader with 12. Shortstop Daria Parchert (sophomore, Illinois City, Ill., Rockridge HS), also returning from injury in Arizona, had three hits on the day.
The Dutch defense sparkled as well as Central played errorless ball. Witte made a highlight-reel diving grab of a blooper in left field while Baugher made a running catch on a deep ball to right field and Parchert continued to shine at shortstop.
“With Daria, those plays have almost become routine, but she made some really good defensive plays at shortstop,” Wares said.
Central makes its home debut Tuesday with a league doubleheader against Buena Vista University. Game time is 3 p.m. at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex field. A video webstream and live stats can be accessed through the Central athletcs website at athletics.central.edu.
Buena Vista (14-7 overall, 0-2 conference) was routed at home by Wartburg College Sunday, 13-4 and 11-2. Central split a doubleheader with the Beavers at Storm Lake last year.
“Buena Vista’s historically been a tough one for us,” Wares said. “That’s just the way the league’s going to be. There will be a lot of competitive games.”
