Central Opens with Softball Sweep in Illinois

It’s only the start but it’s the start the Central College softball team needed, getting a sweep of its breezy season-opening twinbill Saturday in Illinois.

Second baseman Haley Bach failed to reach base in the opener yet scored the winning run on an eighth-inning tiebreaker in a 4-3 win over the University of Chicago in chilly temperatures. Then pitcher Sydni Huisman threw four shutout innings in a 6-2 victory over Monmouth College (Ill.).

Pitcher Emma Beck struck out eight of the first 12 Chicago hitters, before Morgan Schaben took over in the fifth inning, but re-entered the game after Chicago tied the game 3-3 in the seventh. She retired the side in order in the top of the eighth. Bach was placed on second base because of the tiebreaker to start the frame and moved to third on an infield hit by center fielder Emma Johnson. Johnson then broke for second base to draw a throw and Bach scampered home for a walk-off double steal. Third baseman Franie Burnett had two hits, stole three bases and scored a run while freshman catcher Rylee Dunkin had two hits, two steals and an RBI in her collegiate debut. First baseman Megan Stuhr also had an RBI hit and scored a run.

Burnett singled, stole a base and scored on a Stuhr single to get the Dutch started in the first inning against Monmouth. Burnett had two hits in the game. Johnson walked three times and left fielder Megan Doty had two hits and an RBI. Bach and right fielder Mariah Parton also had RBI hits. Central had 10 hits in the game.

Central continues venturing south with a trip to the NFCA Division III Leadoff Classic for six games next Friday through Sunday in Columbus, Georgia. Central opens this year’s Leadoff slate meeting Roanoke College (Va.) at 2:30 pm Friday and DePauw University (Ind.) at 4:30 pm. Trevor Castle will broadcast all six Central games on the KRLS3 stream and on 92.1 KRLS.

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Central Battles for Split on Baseball Opening Day

Overcoming defensive woes in the season-opening doubleheader, the Central College baseball team salvaged a split at Greenville University (Ill.) on Saturday.

Central (1-1) dropped the first game against the Panthers 8-7 before winning the nightcap 15-9. The Dutch scored 22 runs on 19 hits but committed eight errors that allowed 10 unearned runs to score. Catcher Dom DeLaPaz and right fielder Colton DeRocher led the offensive attack. DeLaPaz was 4-for-7 on the day with a two-run home run in his first at-bat. DeRocher was 5-for-10 while driving in four runs. He also had a home run in game two.

In the opener, Central trailed 7-2 through seven innings before a five-run spurt in the top of the eighth leveled the game. Coming into the game in relief of starter Declan O’Hare, Bryce Haessig suffered the loss after giving up three earned runs in four innings. That five-run inning included a three-run double by centerfielder Max Steinlage, two singles, two walks and two fielding errors. Andrew Doyle had a strong 5.1 innings of relief in game two, striking out two and giving up two earned runs to get the win.

Central wraps up its opening weekend with a single game at noon Sunday in O’Fallon, Illinois against Illinois Wesleyan University.

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Central Men Edged in Home Tennis Opener

In its first action in Pella of the spring, the Central College men’s tennis team was tripped up by Northwestern College Saturday afternoon.

Central (0-5) had a 2-1 advantage after doubles against the Red Raiders (4-4) but lost four of six singles matches. Travis Subbert went 2-0 for Central, starting with an 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles with Ernest Alvarez Chedzoy. He also was a 6-4, 6-3 winner at No. 5 singles. AJ Wilkins and Alejo Marcon battled for an 8-7 (7-5) win at No. 1 doubles. Ayden Fletcher also was victorious 6-4, 6-7 (1-7), 1-0 (10-7) at the top spot in singles.

Central has four matches next weekend, starting with a 4 p.m. match Friday in Moline, Illinois against St. Ambrose University.

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Central Men Climb to Fourth at League Track Meet

A strong second day of competition brought the Central College men’s track and field team into fourth place at the American Rivers Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships Saturday.

Central totaled 97.5 team points to edge Nebraska Wesleyan University for fourth place. Gunner Meyer pulled off a surprising victory in the high jump, clearing the bar at 6 feet, 9.5 inches on his first attempt to secure the win. Central once again piled up the points in the heptathlon with five athletes scoring points. Gavin Smith was the winner with 4,828 points and Gage Huyser was second with 4,789 points. Additionally, Kale Hobart was fourth (4,662 points), Jaxon Thompson was sixth (4,586 points) and Reid Pakkebier was seventh (4,585 points).

Noah Jorgenson not only won the mile in 4:08.86, but he also anchored the winning 4×800-meter relay team in a winning time of 7:45.95. Blake Creed, Adam Sylvia, and Jack Brown joined Jorgenson in the victory. Triple jumper Kale Purcell placed second with a new career-best mark 46-10.75. The 4×400-meter relay team of Brian Hart, Jrake Van Hemert, JD Elefson, and Noah Erickson earned all-conference accolades with a third-place finish in 3:22.13. Sylvia was also fourth in the mile in 4:13.76. Nolan Meyer was fifth in the high jump at 6-1.5. Jack Brown was sixth in the 800 meters in 1:55.73. In the 60-meter hurdles, Grant Miller was fifth (8.30 seconds), Connor Miklos was sixth (8.37 seconds), and Pakkebier was seventh (8.46 seconds).

Central will have limited entrants at the Wartburg Qualifier next weekend in Waverly.

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Central Women Pile Up Points to Finish Third at Conference Championships

Tallying its highest point total since 2015, the Central College women’s track and field team finished third at the American Rivers Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships Saturday.

Central scored 136.5 points, its best since totaling 153 points at the 2015 indoor championships. The meet ended with a bang for the Dutch as it won the 4×400-meter relay in 3 minutes, 55.14 seconds for the first time since 2011. Abbi Roerdink anchored the team to a win after Lizzy Van Utrecht, Ava Parkins, and Abby Gruver got the race started. Roerdink earned additional all-conference accolades by finishing third in the 400 meters (57.81 seconds). Her third scoring event was an eighth-place effort in the 200 meters (26.17 seconds).

Megan Johnson won her second event of the weekend, taking the 3,000-meter in a time of 9:40.39. Caroline McMartin was second in 9:52.50 and Addison Parrott was seventh in 10:16.05. McMartin was the mile champion in 4:52.75 while Parrott was third in 5:04.26. Leah Bontrager was seventh in 5:13.29 Central won a third distance race title as Peyton Steffen reset her own school record in the 800 meters en route to victory (2:15.36). Hadyn Miller, Alyssa Mayhew, Alivia Roerdink, and Steffen were third in the 4×800-meter relay in 9:35.37. Mayhew was also fourth in the 800 (2:20.31) and Alivia Roerdink was seventh (2:23.68). Olivia Bohlen took second in the 60-meter hurdles in 9.06 seconds. Emily McMartin was fifth in both the 60 meters (7.90 seconds) and 200 meters (25.80 seconds). Parkins was sixth in the 60 (7.92 seconds). was seventh in the high jump after clearing 4-10.5

Central will have limited entrants at the Wartburg Qualifier next weekend in Waverly.