Dutch baseball team sweeps Iowa Wesleyan
Central Dutch Athletics
PELLA—In the final home games of the year for the Central College baseball team Sunday afternoon, Central swept Iowa Wesleyan University 4-3, 6-0.
The Dutch (21-13) needed a seventh-inning rally to beat the Tigers (8-26-1) in the first game of the doubleheader. Trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the inning, Central scored two runs on three hits and two walks. Tanner Wood (senior, right fielder, Pella) drove in the game-winning run with a single through the right side.
“It wasn’t exactly how we drew it up,” coach Matt Schirm said. “But their starting pitcher did a nice job. It was a tough day offense with the wind blowing in. We had some hard-hit balls that got hung up in the wind.”
Nick Long (junior, Marshalltown, East Marshall HS) got the start on the mound going 3.0 innings with five strikeouts. Rece Martin (junior, Saydel) and Marcus Wenzel (sophomore, Chicago, Ill., Luther North College Prep) pitched in relief before Ryan Riddle (sophomore, Omaha, Mt. Michael HS) got the win thanks to the Wood walk-off after pitching the top of the seventh.
“Our pitchers did a nice job keeping us in the game,” Schirm said. “Ultimately, we got the win and that’s all that matters.”
Wood drove in three more runs in the second game while shortstop Garrett Saunders (senior Bonaparte, Van Buren HS) was 3-for-4 at the plate. Wood also pitched the first three innings, giving up one hit and walking two with three strikeouts to get the win.
“He had another really good pitching performance,” Schirm said. “I was happy with the second game, it was a much cleaner game.”
Schirm was happy to get all eight seniors on the field during the doubleheader.
“All of our seniors have meant so much to the program,” Schirm said. “I was so happy to send them out the right way.”
Left-handed pitcher Zach Greder (senior, Sloan, Westwood HS) struck out the only batter he faced in the fifth and Brent Parker (senior, Bussey, Twin Cedars HS) got his first career start in right field.
“Zach’s role is as a lefty specialist,” Schirm said. “It set up well for us to have him lead off that inning against a lefty. The strikeout was a great way for him to end his home career.
“Brent has struggled with injuries his whole career. He made a great catch in the second inning but had to leave the game after running into the fence.”
Saunders, Wood, Ryan Bouwman (first baseman, Bloomington, Ill., Normal HS) and Coy Moore (centerfielder, Hamilton, Twin Cedars HS) started in both games. Chris Riddle (sophomore, Omaha, Neb, Mt. Michael HS) was the second baseman in the second game and Adam Carey (Pella) pitched a perfect fourth inning of the nightcap
Central has a three-game series against Nebraska Wesleyan University this weekend in Lincoln. Central currently is fifth in the American Rivers Conference standings and can secure a spot in the league’s tournament against the Prairie Wolves.
“Ultimately, we control our own destiny which feels good,” Schirm said. “If we play well, I really like our chances.”
