The Central baseball team played its first home games in nearly two years over the weekend, hosting Coe for a pair of American Rivers Conference doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
A seventh-inning wild pitch allowed Lucas Farren to scamper home for a 5-4 Central College baseball win over Coe College Saturday afternoon, salvaging a split in the doubleheader.
Central had a 4-2 lead entering the top of the seventh inning before Coe rallied to tie it 4-4 heading to the bottom of the inning. A leadoff walk put Farren on first and then a sacrifice bunt by left fielder Jared Kampf moved him up to second base. The first of two wild pitches advanced Farren to third before he scurried him for the walk-off win on a second wild pitch.
Ryan Riddle pitched the first 6.1 innings, striking out six, walking three and allowing four runs. Landon Thiele was the winning pitcher after inducing a pair of fly outs to end the seventh inning. Central got a pair of hits and two RBI from Kampf in the second game. Landon Vander Leest chipped in with two hits in game two, scoring once. Head Coach Matt Schirm says his guys kept battling, and it paid off.
Coe defeated Central in game 1 2-1. In game one, Central got a great start from pitcher Marcus Wenzel. He struck out six batters in 7.0 innings, scattering five hits. He tossed six scoreless innings after giving up one in the first frame. Kurby Vowels took the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in the 8th. First baseman Jon Rozeboom provided the offense in the opener with a solo home run in the sixth. He also had a second-inning double.
Limited to just two runs in 16 innings, Central was beaten 5-0, 7-2 by Coe Sunday afternoon. Central falls to 3-5 overall (1-3 American Rivers Conference) while Coe moves to 7-2 (3-1 conference). The Kohawks outhit the Dutch 17-4 on the day.
Trevor Kimm contributed two of the team’s four hits on the day, and his batted ball in game two resulted in a Kohawk error and a fifth-inning run.
Game one’s starting pitcher Landon Vander Leest struck out five in five innings, allowing just two hits. Only one of the three runs he allowed were credited as earned in a loss.
Nathan Schwanke was the losing pitcher in game two, giving up five runs in the first three innings. Relievers Kurby Vowels and Landon Thiele allowed two scores in the final six frames. Now Central travels to Waverly for a weekend series with Wartburg College, starting with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Hear that doubleheader on 92.1 KRLS.
The 2021 spring season for the Central College volleyball team ended on a high note with a 25-19, 25-20, 25-20 win at Luther College Saturday afternoon. Central finishes the season 4-4 overall and 4-4 in the American Rivers Conference. It’s the program’s first .500 record in league matches since 2016. The Norse are 0-7 (0-7) and wrap up their season Monday.
Senior hitters Kayleigh Fite and Ally Focht had 14 and four kills, respectively. Defensive specialist DaLana Kron had seven digs and a service ace in the final match for the three-member senior class.
Outside hitter Krissa Larson had 12 kills and four block assists. Middle hitter Hallie Uhlig had five block assists. Setter Amanda Smith had 29 assists and libero Landry Luhring had 12 digs.
The Dutch were able to use 14 different players in the varsity match, including two freshmen and five sophomores. As a team Central hit .297 (42-7-128), its best average of the season.