Eighth-inning magic sparks memorable Central NFCA softball sweep
Central Dutch Athletics
TUCSON, ARIZ.—The wins may not always come easily for the Central College softball team this year but if Saturday’s gritty comeback sweep in the NFCA Division III Leadoff Classic is any indication, they will come.
After surrendering a deflating game-tying home run in the seventh inning against DePauw University (Ind.), the No. 21-rated Dutch (2-2) were staggered with three more runs in the eighth, only to answer with four runs in the bottom of the frame as catcher Emily Walton’s (senior, Cedar Rapids, Jefferson HS) bases-loaded single secured an 11-10 walkoff win.
Then Mariah Fritz (junior, Tama, East Marshall HS) turned in one of the tournament’s rare pitching gems with a sparkling five-hit 5-0 shutout of No. 24-rated Babson College (Mass.).
“It was a really good bounce-back,” coach George Wares said.
The Leadoff Classic features many of the top Division III teams from across the country and the tourney outlook for the Dutch brightened dramatically in the span of a few minutes Saturday. Central was staring at its first 0-3 season start in 28 years in the opener, trailing DePauw 10-7 in the eighth inning of the opener.
Central was down 5-3 after four frames but a three-run triple by first baseman Amanda Sigulas (sophomore, Morton, Ill.) highlighted a four-run fifth inning that put Central up 7-5. DePauw made it 7-6 in the bottom of the fifth before the tying homer to start the seventh.
Even with the 10-7 deficit, the Dutch didn’t flinch as Central put seven consecutive runners on base, getting four hits, including a double from center fielder Sara Tallman (sophomore, Pella). Walton and right fielder Shaye Witte (sophomore, West Des Moines, Waukee HS) each had had two hits and a walk in the contest and Sigulas also had two hits.
Pitcher Annie DeVries (senior, Eldridge, North Scott HS) endured all eight innings to even her record at 1-1.
“Annie battled,” Wares said, noting that the Dutch defense let her down at times. Each team committed two errors.
“It was probably the worst-played exciting game I’ve ever been involved in,” Wares said with a smile. “But it was really exciting.”
Runs are being scored in Tucson at a frantic pace, making shutouts an endangered species, but the Babson game was a classic pitching duel with each team scoreless through four innings as Central was limited to just one hit. But the Dutch deployed their small-ball attack in the fifth inning, putting together five hits in six at-bats for five runs. Witte, third baseman Lauren Bagby (junior, Norwalk), left fielder Tabitha Taylor (senior, Grimes, Dallas Center-Grimes HS), Walton and third baseman Kaitlyn Andresen (sophomore, Davenport, Assumption HS) each had hits.
“It felt like it was going to be a 1-0 game,” Wares said. “But in the fifth we got the short game going. We ran the bases well, hit a few where they weren’t and the next thing you know, we’re up 5-0.
“Their pitcher was tough. She put tremendous spin on the ball. But we had some very good at-bats against her and made some good adjustments.”
Fritz, who struggled in a loss Friday to No. 6 Trine (Ind.), giving up seven walks, didn’t walk a Babson batter.
“She was more in command,” Wares said. “She used her change-up effectively and we made every play behind her. We didn’t make any really great plays but a lot of solid plays.”
The Dutch played errorless ball.
But the day came with a major downside. Freshman shortstop Daria Parchert (Illinois City, Ill., Rockridge HS) was injured while scoring on the Sigulas triple against DePauw and her return date is uncertain.
“It’s tough for her,” Wares said. “She was so excited to play.”
Wares moved Bagby to shortstop and inserted Andresen, a transfer, to third base.
“You practice for that for a reason,” Wares said. “We’re fortunate we have a lot of depth.”
The high-intensity early season gauntlet continues Sunday as the Dutch meet perennial power Linfield College (Ore.) at 1 p.m. (Central Time) and Whitworth University (Wash.) at 3:30 p.m. Linfield is 9-4 and 3-1 this weekend, defeating Iowa Conference rival Coe College 7-3 Saturday along with St. John Fisher (N.Y.) 14-6. Whitworth is 6-6 overall and 3-1 in the Leadoff Classic, Saturday sweeping Birmingham Southern (Ala.) 7-6 in 8 innings and Wittenberg (Ohio) 1-0.
Regardless of Sunday’s outcomes, Wares said the elite competition level ensures Central’s tourney performance can’t be measured by the win-loss record alone.
“Going 0-6 was a possibility,” he said. “And we could have gone 0-6 and still be good. Any game you can win in the first six is a good win and any game you lose is not a bad loss.”
A live audio webcast of both Sunday games with sportscaster Trevor Castle can be accessed via www.kniakrls.com.
