Central offense ends baseball season with a bang

PELLA – The Central College baseball team pounded out 14 hits to take a 12-6 win over Loras College in the season finale Friday.

The Dutch (17-21, 8-16 American Rivers Conference) blitzed the Duhawks (19-21, 9-15 conference) with a seven-run fourth inning and scored in four of six innings. The doubleheader started late due to a weather delay and the second game ended after seven innings due to darkness. Central lose the first game 12-4.

First baseman David Distefano (freshman, Janesville, Wis., Craig HS) led the way with three hits and four RBI. Third baseman Brayden Sawyer (junior, Grundy Center) drove in three runs on two hits.

“It was a huge day for David,” coach Adam Carey said. “He took lessons from his failures during the season. We saw flashes all season but the last two weekends he consistently put together great at-bats. It really showed today with the results.”

Shortstop Bryer Wiley (freshman, Urbana, Center Point-Urbana HS) and second baseman Chance Dreyer (junior, Davenport, Assumption HS) both had two hits and two RBI.

“It was nice to see our offense do what we know we are capable of,” Carey said. “It put a nice bow on an up and down season. ”

Mark Kenney (junior, Fennimore, Wis.) got the start on the mound and won for the fifth time. After giving up four runs in the first inning, Kenney tossed five consecutive scoreless innings. His total line was 6.0+ innings pitched with five total runs, but just one earned. Wes Hamor (senior, Tama, East Marshall HS) came on in relief to record the final three outs.

“Mark was really efficient and pitched really well,” Carey said. “He’s so consistent and we saw it again today. It was awesome to get Wes in there to close it out. He’s given us everything he has for the last four years. He’s grown so much and become a really good leader.”