Two Dutch Baseball Players Selected to All-Conference First Team

Declan O’Hare and Colton DeRocher were selected to represent the Central College baseball team on the American Rivers All-Conference first team.

O’Hare was chosen as the utility player, while DeRocher was one of four outfielders picked. They are the first Dutch players to merit first team recognition since 2018.

Splitting his time between first base and starting on the mound, O’Hare led the Dutch in batting average and pitching wins during the conference season. In 22 conference games, he hit .405 with 12 extra-base hits and 19 RBIs. On the mound, he was 2-1 in conference contests including a complete game shutout against Luther College in his final start. He had a 3.76 ERA, striking out 30 in 38.1 innings.

Derocher also started 22 games, hitting .372 with seven home runs, 1 triple and nine doubles. He drove in 31 runs, the most of any player in the conference. He slugged .744 and had a pair of two home run games against Loras College and Wartburg College.

Central Returns to Men’s Outdoor Track Rating Index

After a week out of the top 25, the Central men’s track and field team returned as the #21 team in the latest USTFCCCA Division III Outdoor Track and Field National Team Rating Index. Placement in the index is reflective of the best NCAA Division III individual marks and times.

Central is one of four teams from the American Rivers Conference to crack the top-25 and are also ranked No. 5 in the Central Region. Central has been in the rating index four of the eight weeks this season, peaking at No. 18 in week three. Long jumper Brock Lewis took over the No. 1 spot nationally following a conference-winning leap of 24-10.5. High jumper Sam Beatty is No. 2 nationally (6 feet, 10.25 inches) and discus thrower Theo Baldus is No. 2- in the discus throw (162-6). Central has four decathletes on the top-20 list. Brody Klein is No. 13 (6,413 points) Lucas Heitz is No. 16 (6,370 points), Reid Pakkebier is No. 17 (6,294) and Jaxon Thompson is No. 19 (6,259). 

A handful of Central athletes will compete at the Augustana Midwest Twilight Qualifier on Thursday in Rock Island, Illinois.