Dutch Blast Past Duhawks in Baseball Doubleheader

Winning both games by the 10-run rule after seven innings, the Central College baseball team swept Loras College 12-2 and 16-3 in a doubleheader heard live on 92.1 KRLS Saturday afternoon.

The Dutch (13-18, 7-11 American Rivers Conference) offense battered the Duhawks pitching staff for 28 runs and 26 hits in 14 innings.

Brayden Sawyer made his second and third starts of the season Saturday and exploded onto the scene. He had two hits and an RBI in the first game and four hits and three RBI in the second game. He had a pair of doubles and a two-run home run.

Second baseman Logan McCoy drove in seven runs on 5-for-7 hitting. His bases loaded triple broke the game open in the fourth inning of the opener. Left fielder Chase Martin had three hits and three RBI, including a two-run home run in the third inning of game two.

First baseman Garrett Finley had two hits and two RBI in the opener. Declan O’Hare and Max Steinlage each had two hits in the nightcap with O’Hare driving in three runs.

Central got complete game performances from both of its starting pitchers. O’Hare got the ball in game one and scattered six Duhawks hits for two earned runs in his seven innings. Coming off a seven-inning start against Buena Vista University, Sam Staley gave his team another gritty performance Saturday. He allowed three earned runs against the conference’s No. 2 offense, scattering six hits and four walks.

The nine seniors on the roster and student coach JD Alberhasky were honored in between games for Senior Day. In addition to Staley, Finley and O’Hare, Hayden Smith, Landon Thiele, Caleb Evans, Brenden Mudd, Brendan Short, Kurby Vowels were recognized.

Dobernecker Closes Strong for Central Men’s Golf Squad

Enduring stiff westerly winds and temperatures hovering in the low 40s, Central College’s Harold Dobernecker posted three birdies on his final eight holes and closed with a 3-over-par 74 at the the 18-team Millikin University (Ill.) Take Back the Night Challenge Saturday.

Play moved to the par-71 South Side Country Club but Central remained in 10th place, finishing at 304-305—609 in the 36-hole meet. Dobernecker tied for 32nd individually at 74-77—151, matched by Cole McGriff who shot 75-76—151. Jacob Moffett had 75-79—154 with Lucas Wendel at 77-79—156 and Kyle Gabos at 81-76–157. Senior Dustin Haines, an at-large entrant, matched Dobernecker Saturday for team low with 74 to close at 78-74—152 and Jacob Brainerd shot 76-84—160.

Central makes its only spring-season home appearance Thursday with the 18-hole Ryerson Classic at the par-72 Bos Landen Golf Club starting at 11 a.m. It’s the final competition for the Dutch before the American Rivers meet May 4-6 in Muscatine.

Baldus Wins Discus Throw at Dick Young Classic

Cracking the national top-50 list while winning the men’s discus throw, Theo Baldus’s effort highlighted the Dick Young Classic Saturday for the Central College track and field team.

Sending an almost exclusively throwers group to the meet hosted by Grinnell College, Baldus had a mark of 151 feet, 6 inches to move up to No. 39 in Division III. He was also fourth in the men’s hammer throw (151-1). Martin Vineyard was second in the men’s hammer throw with a toss of 156-11. Trevor Glockel was fifth in the men’s shot put (40-10.5). Abby Marr also was an individual champion in the women’s hammer throw at 137-9.  She was also fourth in the shot put (38-3.5). Alyssa Streigel was second in the women’s discus throw (1282) and fifth in the hammer throw (117-6) and shot put (36-5.5). Allison Van Gorp was third in the shot put (38-6.25) and Morgan Devereaux was fourth in the hammer throw (120-10). The only non-thrower from Central to compete, Brian Hart was second in the 100-meter dash (11.41 seconds) and fourth in the 200-meter dash (23.21 seconds).

The Dutch will compete at the Drake Relays and Simpson College’s Kip Janvrin Open next Thursday and Friday.

Dutch Men’s Tennis Team Finishes Third in League Standings

With a 7-2 win over Wartburg College Saturday afternoon, the Central College men’s tennis team secured a third-place finish in the American Rivers Conference.

Central (11-10, 6-2 conference) lost earlier in the day to the league runners-up from Coe College 5-1.

The Dutch fell in two out of three doubles matches against the Knights but rallied to win all six singles matches. Alejo Marcon and AJ Wilkins won 8-7 at No. 3 doubles. Trey Melvin got it started with a 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 singles. Nick Scott won 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2 and Wilkins won 6-2, 6-2 in the first round of matches on Central’s three indoor courts. Caleb Hamerlinck won 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3, Ayden Fletcher won 6-4, 6-4 at No. 6 and Matthew Den Adel won 6-4, 6-2 at No. 6.

Against the Kohawks in the morning, two of the three doubles matches went into tie-breakers but Central came up short both times. The final four singles matches were not played to account for Coe’s travel time to Des Moines to face Simpson. Scott was the only Central player to win against Coe, taking a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 2

Central will be the No. 3 seed in next week’s American Rivers Conference tournament. They will host a quarterfinal match Tuesday afternoon against either Loras College or Nebraska Wesleyan University.