Central College Softball Team Goes 2-2 Over the Weekend
It was a busy weekend for the Central College softball team, as they went 2-2 in a pair of doubleheaders against Loras and Dubuque.
Recording just seven hits over 14 innings Saturday, the Central College softball team lost 2-0 and 4-2 at Loras College, but snapped a four-game losing skid by defeating Dubuque 5-3 and 12-4 on Sunday.
In Saturday’s opener, Central only had base runners who reached scoring position three times after two hits and four walks. Jadyn Huisman held Loras to two earned runs in 3.1 innings but suffered her fifth loss of the season. In the second game Saturday, Central scratched a run across in the top of the first on the strength of Hannah Higgins’ RBI double, but the Duhawks scored four runs in the bottom half of the inning. That was enough offense for Loras to secure the sweep. Peyton Levine was the losing pitcher, allowing four earned runs in 3.0 innings. Higgins finished the game with two hits, while Rylee Dunkin and Sarah Stufflebeam each scored one run.
Central and Dubuque started fast on offense in game one on Sunday. Dubuque had a two-run home run in the top half of the first frame, while Central answered with four runs on four hits and three stolen bases in the bottom half. Each squad tallied a single run in the second and then played five innings of scoreless softball. For the third time this season, Jadyn Huisman threw a complete game, scattering four hits and two walks while allowing three earned runs. In game two, Dubuque took advantage of walks to score four runs on the strength of a bases loaded triple. Central matched that total as Jackie Sledden drove in two on a pinch-hit double and Rylee Dunkin added an RBI double. Dunkin came around to score when the throw to third to catch her stealing sailed into left field. The Dutch flashed a power streak with home runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings. Sarah Stufflebeam offered a solo shot in the third, Emma Anderson had a two-run blast in the fourth and Dunkin sent the crowd home early with a two-run bomb in the fifth to put Central in front by eight. Ella Morse was the starting and winning pitcher in game two, giving up just three of the four runs while issuing six walks and three hits in 4.2 innings. Rylie Van Wyk registered the final out in the fifth.
Central travels to Buena Vista University Tuesday for a 3 pm doubleheader.
Central Men Blank Dubuque in Home Tennis Finale
Wrapping up the regular season on its home courts, the Central College men’s tennis team controlled the University of Dubuque for a 7-0 win Saturday morning.
The No. 1 doubles unit of Bodi Kortz and Alex Slaymaker secured the doubles point with a thrilling 7-6 (7-5) win. Ernest Alvarez Chedzoy and Gavin Jablonski started Central off with a 6-0 win at No. 2 doubles. Central made it a clean sweep through the six singles match but it wasn’t easy. Kortz lost the opening set at No. 1 before winning 4-6, 6-0, 1-0 (10-8). Alvarez Chedzoy won a marathon match 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 (13-11) in the No. 3 slot. Quin Hull recorded a 7-6 (10-8), 6-3 victory at No. 5, while Slaymaker won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2 and Jablonski won 6-2, 6-1 at No. 4. In the No. 6 match, Hayden Sinclair was a 6-2, 6-2 victor.
The Dutch (5-16, 4-4 ARC) will be the No. 5 seed in the American Rivers Conference tournament, which begins with a rematch against Loras on Tuesday night in Dubuque. The Duhawks beat the Dutch 4-3 on Friday night.
Dutch Track and Field Team Takes on Drake Relays
Getting the opportunity to race on the famed blue oval at Drake Stadium, the Central College track and field team was in action at the Drake Relays this weekend. Central also had athletes entered at the Kip Janvrin Open hosted by Simpson College.
Gunner Meyer was fifth in the men’s 110-meter hurdles in 13.94 seconds. He also finished tied for 10th in the high jump after clearing 6 feet, 8 inches. Teammate Lance Bunde tied for seventh after also clearing 6-8 but on fewer attempts. In Thursday night’s distance carnival, Peyton Steffen was sixth in the women’s 5,000-meter run open in 17 minutes, 9.56 seconds. Mary Gustason, Olivia Bohlen, Danika Arnold and Olivia Phillips ran the fourth-fastest 4×200-meter relay time in school history, crossing the line in 1:42.85 to finish 19th. Gustason, Bohlen, Phillips and Alivia Roerdink were eighth in the sprint medley relay in 4:12.75.
Just missing the finals in the women’s 4×400-meter relay, Roerdink, Emily McMartin, Kennedy Petersen, and Ava Parkins were 10th in 3:48.85. In the 4×100-meter relay, Gustason, Parkins, McMartin and Karlee Warnke were 12th in 48.08 seconds. Warnke was 18th in the long jump (17-8), McMartin was 22nd in the women’s 400 meters (57.74 seconds) and Bohlen was 23rd (14.28 seconds). Men’s javelin thrower Grant Miller was 11th with a toss of 174 feet, 10 inches.
At the Kip Janvin Open, Owen Tomko won the men’s long jump with a mark of 22 feet, 9 inches. He’s just outside the national top 50 in the event. Women’s long jumper Jasmyn Williams finished third with a leap of 17-6. Gage Huyser had a pair of top-10 finishes in the pole vault (fourth, 13-11.25) and 110-meter hurdles (sixth, 14.83 seconds). Maddy Stevens was sixth in the women’s 5,000 meters in a time of 17:21.52
Central will host the three-day American Rivers Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships starting next Thursday.
Pfantz Finishes Sixth in Women’s Golf Finale
Allie Pfantz shot a career-low round at the Wartburg Spring Invitational Saturday, the final meet of the season for the Central College women’s golf team. The Dutch only had three players and did not have a team score. Pfantz carded a career-low 73 on the par-72 Prairie Links Golf Course for her first round. She had a two-day total of 73-77–150. Bella Keaveney finished 39th after shooting career-low rounds on both days. She carded an 84 Saturday and then an 81 Sunday for a total of 165. Mickey Martens tied for 49th, scoring 87-81-168.
