Sarcone blasts spark Central softball sweep in Arizona
Central College
TUCSON, ARIZ.—Shortstop Annie Sarcone (sophomore, Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS) hammered a pair of home runs as the Central College softball team capped a surprising run in the Tucson Invitational Games with a 10-4 come-from-behind win over Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) and a 10-3 victory over Dickinson State University (N.D.) Saturday.
The Dutch posted a 14-2 mark over nine days, matching the team’s record in Tucson a year ago despite suffering some significant graduation losses, including a pair of all-America performers.
“We’re very happy to be 14-2,” coach George Wares said. “I’m really pleased with the progress we’ve made in 16 games.”
After a dramatic 5-4 victory over Trinity University (Texas) Friday, Wares wasn’t sure how much the Dutch had left in the tank for Saturday.
“We were concerned going in, number one because Gustavus has a quality team,” he said. “And number two, because physically we’re a little tired at this point in the week, particularly after an emotional win against Trinity. It’s hard to come back from a game like that in less than 24 hours.”
Those fears intensified when Gustavus (5-3) took a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning. But in the bottom of the fourth, the Dutch erupted for six runs on seven hits, with five of the runs scoring after two outs. Wares said perhaps the key at-bat in the inning was by designated player Abbey Strajack (freshman, Davenport, Assumption HS). With two outs and one runner on, Strajack fouled off several pitches before lining an RBI single to left field.
“That really showed the improvements she’s made from the first game to the 16th,” Wares said.
The Dutch had six straight batters reach base, highlighted by a two-run homer by freshman third baseman Whitney Sowers (Marshalltown), her second of the year.
Then Sarcone put the game away with a two-run homer in the seventh inning. Sowers had three hits and three RBIs with two runs scored. Sarcone and second baseman Angela Davis (senior, West Des Moines, Valley HS) each had two hits.
“We got down 4-1 but give credit to the players for coming back,” Wares said. “We got some timely hits. We got some help from some Gustavus miscues but were able to capitalize on them.”
Rhianna Fleetwood (junior, Sycamore, Ill.) pitched 5.2 innings, giving up four runs on nine hits with two walks and six strikeouts to improve to 5-1. Brie Haycraft (sophomore, Eldridge, North Scott HS) retired the last four batters in order to end the game.
Central took an early 4-0 lead against Dickinson State (10-10) before the Blue Hawks made it 4-3 in the fifth inning. But the Dutch picked up two runs in the sixth inning and four in the seventh as Sarcone belted her fifth homer of the year, a three-run shot to left field. Strajack had three hits and scored three runs while catcher Caitlyn Meyer (junior, Newton) had three hits and two RBIs. Right fielder Emily Te Brink (junior, Le Mars) had two hits.
Pitcher Mallory Schulenberg (freshman, Kansas City, Mo., St. Pius X HS) continued to be the surprise of the trip, improving to 5-0 with a complete game. She scattered 10 hits in seven innings, giving up two earned runs with two walks and four strikeouts.
“I don’t think anyone expected Mallory to be 5-0,” Wares said. “She was able to take a lot of innings away from Rhianna (Fleetwood) and Brie (Haycraft). They were still able to get plenty of work without us overusing them.”
Meanwhile, Central had 27 hits on the day and has seven players hitting .400 or better. Sarcone is batting .489 with a team-high 18 runs scored while Sowers is hitting .467 with Davis batting .439 and Te Brink batting .425. Sarcone and Meyer each have 18 RBIs. Te Brink has 12 stolen bases as the Dutch have a 58-6 advantage over opponents in steals.
“We’ve getting in a rhythm at the plate,” Wares said. “We’ve got some kids who are swinging it really well.
“The upside now is we have some practice time before our next game. Even though we’re very happy with what we’ve accomplished so far, we have a pretty long list of things we can get better at both individually and collectively as a team.”
Improvement is important because the schedule ahead is daunting, starting with the St. Louis Invitational next Saturday and Sunday, March 24-25. Central is at St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title contender Fontbonne (Mo.) in St. Ann, Mo. at 10 a.m. March 24, followed by a 2 p.m. game with Concordia-Chicago (Ill.) at St. Louis at 2 p.m. The following day the Dutch meet Augustana (Ill.) at 9:30 a.m. in St. Louis before another meeting with Fontbonne in St. Ann at 1 p.m. Then the Dutch open play in the rugged Iowa Conference by meeting league favorites Luther and Coe on the road March 31 and April 4, respectively.
