Dutch Softball Hurlers Silence Foes in Arizona
It took just one day on the Central College softball team’s trip to the Tucson (Ariz.) Invitational Games for further evidence of a major upgrade for the squad in the pitching circle this year.
Restored health for Sydni Huisman (junior, Treynor) and Morgan Schaben (senior, Portsmouth) combined with the addition of freshman Emma Beck (Holland, Grundy Center HS) are bolstering the Dutch after a disappointing 2022 season and all three sparkled in a two-game sweep Friday. Central (5-1) blanked Bethany Lutheran College (Minn.) 1-0 and shut down RPI (N.Y.) 4-1.
Huisman threw 4.1 innings of one-hit ball against Bethany Lutheran, giving up three walks and fanning seven to improve to 3-0 after major off-season surgery. Schaben surrendered only a hit over 2.2 innings while striking out two to pick up her second save. Then, as temperatures pushed 80 degrees in the windless Arizona desert, Beck notched her first collegiate win. She threw 6.0 innings, allowing a run on a hit and four walks while striking out seven. Schaben threw a perfect seventh inning.
The Dutch offense is still finding its way. Central won the opener against Bethany Lutheran (5-10) without an RBI, mustering five hits and a walk for the game. But as usual, when runs are scarce, the Dutch turned to their short game. After a fourth-inning rally appeared to fizzle following a double play, third baseman Franie Burnett (junior, Ankeny, Centennial HS) beat out a bunt single, moved to second on a hit by first baseman Megan Stuhr (junior, Ankeny), stole third and raced home when the throw went into left field.
Central found a bit more production against RPI (1-4), striking for single tallies in four consecutive innings. Left fielder Megan Doty (senior, Grinnell) singled and scored twice while designated player Emma Lenox (sophomore, Fremont, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont HS) was 2-for-2. Freshman Mariah Parton (Ankeny), sidelined by injury in the preseason, made her debut Friday and singled in her first collegiate at-bat.
The day’s biggest blemish was left by three Central errors, although with the exception of a brief outdoor practice in Pella on a 35-degree day last week, it was the team’s first action on a dirt infield for the season.
The 12-game, eight-day trip continues today as Central takes on RIT (N.Y.) at 2:30 p.m. Central Time and Concordia University (Wis.) at 4:30 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on 92.1 KRLS by the Voice of the Dutch, Trevor Castle.
Dutch Women Add Four Track All-Americans
Racing to a fifth-place finish in the distance medley relay at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships Friday night, the Central College women’s track and field team added its first track event All-Americans since 2015.
Megan Johnson (junior, Parkersburg, Aplington-Parkersburg HS), Abbi Roerdink (junior, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS), Peyton Steffen (freshman, Marion) and Caroline McMartin (junior Pella) dropped another 10 seconds off of the school record that they set a few weeks ago, finishing in 11 minutes, 44.98 seconds to place fifth. They qualified in the No. 10 spot, outperforming their seed by five positions.
It’s the first All-American accolades for Johnson, Roerdink and Steffen. McMartin had previously earned All-American honors in the 2022 cross country season. Central’s women’s team had not scored at an indoor meet since 2016.
A second Dutch school record fell earlier in the day when Adam Sylvia (senior, Rochester, Mass., Old Rochester HS) took over the program standard in the men’s mile with a time of 4:08.77. He missed qualifying for the final, placing 12th overall.
Women’s weight thrower Abby Marr (senior, Riceville) finished in 20th with a mark of 49 feet, 8.25 inches. She fouled her first attempt and couldn’t find the mark she needed to get to the final in consecutive seasons.
Lucas Heitz (senior, Adel, ADM HS) is in 18th at the halfway point of the men’s heptathlon. He’s totaled 2,475 points so far and has some of his best events coming tomorrow.
Central’s Linahon Eliminated from NCAA Wrestling Tournament
Two losses on the first day of competition knocked Central College wrestler Gage Linahon (junior, 197 pounds, Newton) out of the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships Friday.
Making his second trip to the national meet, Linahon was drawn against the No. 8 seed Demitreus Henry from the State University of New York at Cortland in his opening match. Linahon was caught for a takedown in the first period and took the loss by fall.
Due to a miscommunication by the coaching staff about the schedule, Linahon lost his second match to Braden Homsey of Ferrum College (Va.) by forfeit.
Linahon finished the season 23-8. It’s his second consecutive 20-win season and he’s now 52-19 at Central for his career.