Nail-biting loss for Central baseball in finale

Central Dutch Athletics

Central Dutch Athletics

PELLA — After tying the game in the ninth, the Central College baseball team could not find another run in the 10th as the Dutch fell 2-1 in the final game of the regular season.

A 13-3 loss in the opener brings Central’s final record to 16-23 (7-14 conference) while Loras moves on to the league’s postseason tournament at 25-13 (14-9 conference).

Getting the start for the final time in his career, Dylan Diveney (senior, Marshalltown) dazzled in the nightcap with six strikeouts over five shutout innings. He finished his career with 170 strikeouts.

“I wasn’t even planning on him throwing much today but he asked for the ball,” coach Matt

Schirm said. “Finishing out the fifth inning with three strikeouts was a fitting end to a great career.”

With two outs in bottom of the ninth, second basemen Chris Riddle (junior, Omaha, Neb., Mount Michael HS) had a single drop just out of reach of several Loras defenders down the right field line to score pinch-runner Tanner Schminke (freshman, Boone) from third and knot the game at 1-1.

“We had enough bad luck this weekend that we were due for something that wasn’t hit hard to fall,” Schirm said. “I think that was the payback there.”

Freshman pitcher Spencer Davidson (Des Moines, Lincoln HS) took the loss after balking in an unearned run in the 10th.

The other five seniors on the roster also started behind Diveney. Ryan Garrett (Aledo, Ill., Mercer County HS) was at third base and Kyle Crampton (Omaha, Neb., Millard South HS) took first base. Getting their first career starts in the field were catcher Daniel Weir (Leon, Central Decatur HS) and right fielder Corey Broxson (Guttenberg, Clayton Ridge HS). Michael Collins (Ottumwa) was the designated hitter.

“Several of those guys haven’t played a whole lot so to get them some time was good,” Schirm said. “They deserve it because they’ve committed themselves and been a big part of the program for four years. I was happy to give them that opportunity.”

Game one starting pitcher Tanner Wood (junior, Pella) labored through the first two innings with seven runs allowed on seven hits, but retired 17 batters in a row after the second inning.

A Patrick Diemer (freshman, West Des Moines, Waukee HS) two-run home run provided most of the pop in the opener. The freshman right fielder also had a double. Center fielder Coy Moore (junior, Hamilton, Twin Cedars HS) had two singles.

With the 2018 season ending, the attention turns to the 2019 squad that will include the return of the team’s top-five hitters in terms of batting average and 83% of the innings pitch.

“Despite a disappointing season, I’m still optimistic about the future,” schirm said. “We have a bunch of good players coming back and good players to add in the mix next year. We need to keep getting better and keep moving forward as a program.”

Posted by on May 6 2018. Filed under College Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Comments are closed

         

Search Archive

Search by Date
Search by Category
Search with Google
Log in | Copyright by Oskaloosa News