Heart-breaking loss for Central baseball team

Central Dutch Athletics

CEDAR RAPIDS— The University of Dubuque only had one hit against the Central College baseball team but manufactured three runs to defeat the fifth-seeded Dutch 3-2 Friday at the American Rivers Conference tournament in an elimination game.

Central closes out the season with a 24-16 mark. No. 4 Dubuque (25-14-1) advances to play No. 3 Luther College in another consolation bracket.

“Ultimately, it only ends well for one team,” coach Matt Schirm said. “I’m proud of a lot of the things we’ve accomplished.”

Starting pitcher Adam Carey (senior, Pella) allowed no hits in 5.0 innings and just one unearned run, spreading out four walks and striking out a pair.

“He was the guy I wanted out there,” Schirm said. “He’s one of our best competitors and I knew that he would rise to the occasion and he did.”

The lone hit for the Spartans came in a two-run sixth inning that also featured three walks and a wild pitch.

Tyler Steward (sophomore, Norwalk) absorbed the loss as he faced the first four batters in the sixth. Nathan Schwanke (sophomore, Omaha, Neb., Mt. Michael HS) and Marcus Wenzel (sophomore, Chicago, Ill., Luther College North Prep) finished the game.

Shortstop Garrett Saunders (senior, Bonaparte, Van Buren HS) and center fielder Coy Moore (senior, Hamilton, Twin Cedars HS) each had two-hit performances.

Left fielder Joe Rebik (junior, Marshalltown) had a solo home run in the fifth while Saunders added an RBI with a bases-loaded walk in the second.

“We had a lot of opportunities that we needed to capitalize on more,” Schirm said. “We left too many runs out there and just needed to come up with a few more timely hits.”

Friday’s loss marked the end of the road for Central’s eight seniors, the first recruiting class in Schirm’s tenure with the program.

“It’s a pretty special group,” he said. “They’ve been outstanding leaders and a huge part of why we took a step forward this year.”