Taylor blast caps comeback for Central softball sweep
Central College
WAVERLY —The final scores made it look easy for the Central College softball team Saturday. It was anything but.
The No. 16 Dutch (23-6 overall, 4-0 Iowa Conference) had to come from behind in both ends of an 8-2, 6-2 Iowa Conference sweep at Wartburg College (19-10 overall, 0-4 conference). And they were running dangerously low on chances in game two after getting shut out on one hit through five innings, only to erupt for a six-run sixth inning, highlighted by a two-run homer from freshman center fielder Tabitha Taylor (Grimes, Dallas Center HS) that put Central on top.
“I felt like we’d get something going eventually, but I didn’t expect to score six,” coach George Wares said.
The sweep gave associate head coach Alicia O’Brien her 700th career victory. She compiled a 423-213-3 mark in 18 seasons as head coach at Western Connecticut State, before going 277-98 in her nine years at Central for a combined 700-311-3 record.
Nos. 699 and 700 were a full day’s work.
“Give Wartburg credit,” Wares said. “They’re a much-improved team. They beat Augustana (Ill.) and split with a very good St. John Fisher (N.Y.) team. Nothing comes easy in this league. We know if we don’t play well, anyone could beat you. We were worried about that today.”
Wares noted the Knights made just one error in the two games.
“It’s not like they gave us anything,” he said.
After getting eight hits in the opener, Central’s offense struggled in the second game. Pitcher Trisha Smith (junior, New Hampton) blanked Wartburg for four innings but the Knights loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth. Smith was able to avert the big inning, limiting Wartburg to one run on a sacrifice fly.
That was significant, Wares said, particularly for a team that exhibited an alarming tendency to yield crooked numbers early in the season.
“It was good to get out of it with just one,” he said.
Central finally broke through in the sixth when designated player Karlee Rock (senior, Wheatland, Calamus-Wheatland HS) continued swinging a torrid bat by roping a one-out RBI single to right-center. Taylor, who had lined a double off the fence in the first game, followed by hammering her first collegiate homer over the left field fence for a 3-1 lead.
“We had said when we beat Simpson (Tuesday) that we needed to find somebody to protect Karlee Rock behind her in the batting order while (catcher) Katie Canney (senior, Adel, ADM HS) is out. Obviously our preference is to have Katie back, but Tabitha stepped up really big today. You should have seen the smile on her face as she rounded third. That was fun to see.”
Second baseman Abbey Strajack (senior, Davenport, Assumption HS) added a run-scoring single and right fielder Sarah Bowen (sophomore, New Sharon, North Mahaska HS) blooped a two-run single to center to give the Dutch some welcome breathing room.
Mallory Schulenberg (senior, Kansas City, Mo., St. Pius X HS) replaced Smith in the seventh following a one-out Wartburg double. An additional run scored before she nailed it down. Smith was charged with both runs on seven hits and a walk over 6.1 innings with three strikeouts.
“Trish really pitched well,” Wares said.
Schulenberg (9-4) went the distance in the opener, allowing two unearned runs on seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Wartburg took the lead with a first-inning run and had baserunners in six of seven innings but Schulenberg was able to dodge any serious damage.
“The difference with Mallory this year is she’s pitching like a senior,” Wares said. “Even when she doesn’t have her best stuff, she finds a way. She knows how to win when things aren’t going well.”
Wartburg’s lead in the opener was short-lived. Rock continued her record-breaking power surge, leading off the second inning with her 11th homer of the season, the most in school history. Taylor followed with a double and then Central employed its traditional small-ball attack, getting three runs on a bloop single, a couple of squeeze bunts and a force play.
Canney, still not over last week’s injury, did get a few at-bats and her double led to a two-run sixth-inning uprising in the sixth. Shortstop Paige Schreiner (junior, Ottumwa) added a two-run single in the seventh.
“I like this team,” Wares said. “We can hit it hard, but we can also play small ball. And we’re starting to play better defensively.”
Schreiner had three hits in the two games while first baseman Kaitlyn Matzen (senior, Manly, Central Springs HS) had two hits and a walk. Meanwhile Rock had three hits and two walks. In a remarkable show of respect, Rock even received an intentional walk with the bases loaded—a move Wares said he’s pondered before but never tried. Rock is hitting .438 with 36 RBIs. Strajack continues to top the Central charts with a .459 average.
Central plays its home conference opener Wednesday with a 3 p.m. doubleheader against the University of Dubuque (11-13 overall, 3-1 conference), which split with Loras Thursday after sweeping Wartburg Tuesday.
Wares also saluted O’Brien, his wife, for reaching another milestone.
“Anytime you can add such a quality person to our staff, it’s obviously beneficial,” he said. “She provides a good balance to the staff and she really knows the game. She’s extremely knowledgeable and has added a lot. I’m really happy she was able to get No. 700 and hopefully there will be many more.”
O’Brien was unaware of the number until Wares told her after the games as the Dutch players erupted in cheers.
“I was a little shocked at the end of the game,” she confessed.
“I think anytime you reach a milestone, you think of the people you’ve had chances to work with. I had some good assistant coaches and staff when I was at Western Connecticut and I’ve had great support here. It was a great opportunity to come here as associate head coach. I had to kind of find my way the first year, it was a little different, but I found my role. I feel really appreciated and respected at Central.”
