Dubuque sweeps Central baseball team
Central Dutch Athletics
The Dutch slipped to 18-12 (8-11 American Rivers Conference) on the season with the Spartans now 18-10-1 (8-8 conference). Central had 10 hits in the first game and was aided by three Spartan errors, but still could only muster three runs as the Spartans scored six on five hits. The Dutch also had a 9-6 margin in the hits column for game two.
“We battled all day long,” head coach Matt Schirm said. “I was proud of our guys offensively, it just wasn’t quite enough.”
Garrett Saunders (senior, shortstop, Bonaparte, Van Buren HS) had another 3-for-5 performance at the plate in the opener, connecting for two doubles. He now has 45 career doubles, an all-time record at Central.
Tanner Wood (senior, Pella) had a quality start in game two, going 6.2 innings with only two earned runs. He struck out five but was outdueled by Dubuque’s Chase Kueter, who struck out 12 and went the distance.
“Tanner was outstanding,” Schirm said. “To see him come through like that on senior day was great. He did everything and more that we needed for us to win the game. Kueter has arguably been the best pitcher in the conference this season.”
Connecting on his first home run of the season, left fielder Joe Rebik (junior, Marshalltown) cranked a two-run bomb over the left field fence to give Central 4-3 lead in the sixth. He was 3-for-7 on the day with 2 RBIs and three runs scored.
“He got down two strikes early,” Schirm said. “He fought off some pitches and got one he liked and hit it over the fence.”
Coming off the bench in game two, right fielder Cole Havlovic (sophomore, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) was 2-for-4 with his second double of the year.
Pitching in relief during the first game, Rece Martin (junior, Saydel) struck out nine of 22 batters faced. He gave up one unearned run in five innings. Starter Tyler Steward (sophomore, Norwalk) got the loss by walking four and hitting two more, allowing five runs in three innings.
“Rece kept us in the game,” Schirm said. “He’s been doing that all year. We’ve seen this type of effort from him every time out. He gave us a chance to come back.”
Completing a three-game series against Simpson College (11-16, 3-13 conference), Central has a doubleheader in Indianola on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
“First and foremost, we have to have a short memory from today,” Schirm said. “It’s disappointing to drop two, but we’re still in the thick of the conference race. Our guys will be ready to go.”
