Three Central baseball players tabbed all-conference

Central Dutch Athletics

PELLA — Three Central College senior baseball players were named to the All-American Rivers Conference second team on Wednesday afternoon.

Shortstop Garrett Saunders (Bonaparte, Van Buren HS) is a repeat selection while Coy Moore (Hamilton, Twin Cedars HS) was picked as an outfielder and Tanner Wood (Pella) was cited as a utility player.

Junior starting pitcher Nick Long (Marshalltown, East Marshall HS) was also an honorable mention selection.

The all-conference teams are chosen based on each player’s performance during the 24-game American Rivers Conference slate.

Saunders led Central’s starters with .337 batting average in league action, notching eight extra-base hits and 13 RBIs. He scored 17 runs and drew 15 walks. His slugging percentage of .483 and on-base percentage of .439 were both team-high marks.

Moore started all 24 games in center field, connecting for 27 hits and a .281 batting average. On 81 fielding chances in the outfield, Moore had 75 putouts and a .926 fielding percentage.

In five conference starts, Wood had a 1-2 pitching record and a 4.39 ERA. Wood struck out 21 batters in 26.2 innings pitched. At the plate, Wood had a batting average of .293 while splitting time as a right fielder and designated hitter. He had 11 doubles and 16 RBIs on a .446 slugging percentage.

As Central’s No. 1 starter, Long went 1-4 in six conference starts. He struck out 31 batters in 36.1 innings of work. Opponents had a .283 batting average against him and his ERA was 4.42.

The Dutch went 24-16 (11-3 conference) on the season, finishing in fifth place in the standings.