Ticker goes here
Press Releases
Spirited late-season Central run comes to a close at conference tourney
May 10, 2008
Press Release posted by Central Permalink
CEDAR RAPIDS (Iowa)—A three-run rally in the seventh inning could not catapult the Central College baseball team past Loras College Saturday as a season-ending 10-3 loss gave the Dutch a third-place finish in the Iowa Conference tournament.
Central (22-21) had put together a late-season five-game winning streak, sweeping three games at Dubuque last weekend to secure the final spot in the six-team tourney, then pulling off two tournament victories Thursday. But the season closed with a 7-1 defeat against Wartburg Friday and Saturday’s setback.
Trailing 5-0 Saturday and hitless entering the seventh inning, the Dutch mounted a charge. Shortstop Jake Jadlowski had a run-scoring hit and a two-run single by senior second baseman Justin Owens closed the gap to 5-3. The Dutch then loaded the bases but could not push any more runs across as the inning ended on a collision between baserunner Jarred Lackey and Loras second baseman Alex Miklo. Central’s comeback hopes were then thwarted when the Duhawks plated five runs in the bottom of the frame.
“We were a play or two away from tying,” said coach Adam Stevens.
Adam Squires pitched six innings. Squires (1-5) allowed four earned runs on 11 hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
While the loss concluded Central’s campaign, Stevens was encouraged by the third-place finish. It marked the first time the Dutch opened the league tourney with two wins.
“For the most part, I am pretty pleased with how things went in the tournament,” he said. “We got in the winner’s bracket and when we get back there in the future we will know what to do.”
But the loss does mean nine Central seniors played their last collegiate game after recording 88 wins in four seasons and helping win a share of the 2006 league crown.
“These seniors will go down as one of the most successful classes in program history,” said Stevens. “They have laid the groundwork for success down the road. They are a great group of guys who will be missed.”
The seniors also have littered the Central record books.
Pitcher Brett Mahan clearly cemented his status as one of Central’s best. He has the most career wins (24), strikeouts (219) and innings pitched (264) in program history along with the lowest earned run average (2.80). First baseman Michael Edwards tied the school career doubles mark (41) in program history, is third in hits (163) and fourth in RBIs with 113. Jeremy Kippley holds the record for most career putouts (969) while Owens has the most assists (302) and relief pitcher Ben Gander is tied for the most appearances in a season (17, 2006) in Central history. Also closing out their careers Saturday were center fielder Aaron Heffernan, catcher Charlie Eastlund, pitcher Kyle Fuerstenberg, and pitcher Mike Luce.
Freshman designated hitter/outfielder Caleb Rangel was the team’s top hitter with a .355 mark and 27 RBIs. Edwards hit .329 with 40 RBIs, sophomore outfielder Anthony Bazant batted .314 with 25 RBIs and Jadlowski hit .306 with 27 RBIs.
Mahan closed with a 7-3 mark and a glossy 2.81 ERA, racking up 57 strikeouts in 73.2 innings. Squires compled a 3.90 ERA.
While Stevens knows there are holes to fill, he is excited for the future.
“We had a lot of young players who had solid seasons,” he said “We expect to be at the top of the conference with our young, talented players and we feel like we have some pretty good ones coming in, too.”
Central (22-21) had put together a late-season five-game winning streak, sweeping three games at Dubuque last weekend to secure the final spot in the six-team tourney, then pulling off two tournament victories Thursday. But the season closed with a 7-1 defeat against Wartburg Friday and Saturday’s setback.
Trailing 5-0 Saturday and hitless entering the seventh inning, the Dutch mounted a charge. Shortstop Jake Jadlowski had a run-scoring hit and a two-run single by senior second baseman Justin Owens closed the gap to 5-3. The Dutch then loaded the bases but could not push any more runs across as the inning ended on a collision between baserunner Jarred Lackey and Loras second baseman Alex Miklo. Central’s comeback hopes were then thwarted when the Duhawks plated five runs in the bottom of the frame.
“We were a play or two away from tying,” said coach Adam Stevens.
Adam Squires pitched six innings. Squires (1-5) allowed four earned runs on 11 hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
While the loss concluded Central’s campaign, Stevens was encouraged by the third-place finish. It marked the first time the Dutch opened the league tourney with two wins.
“For the most part, I am pretty pleased with how things went in the tournament,” he said. “We got in the winner’s bracket and when we get back there in the future we will know what to do.”
But the loss does mean nine Central seniors played their last collegiate game after recording 88 wins in four seasons and helping win a share of the 2006 league crown.
“These seniors will go down as one of the most successful classes in program history,” said Stevens. “They have laid the groundwork for success down the road. They are a great group of guys who will be missed.”
The seniors also have littered the Central record books.
Pitcher Brett Mahan clearly cemented his status as one of Central’s best. He has the most career wins (24), strikeouts (219) and innings pitched (264) in program history along with the lowest earned run average (2.80). First baseman Michael Edwards tied the school career doubles mark (41) in program history, is third in hits (163) and fourth in RBIs with 113. Jeremy Kippley holds the record for most career putouts (969) while Owens has the most assists (302) and relief pitcher Ben Gander is tied for the most appearances in a season (17, 2006) in Central history. Also closing out their careers Saturday were center fielder Aaron Heffernan, catcher Charlie Eastlund, pitcher Kyle Fuerstenberg, and pitcher Mike Luce.
Freshman designated hitter/outfielder Caleb Rangel was the team’s top hitter with a .355 mark and 27 RBIs. Edwards hit .329 with 40 RBIs, sophomore outfielder Anthony Bazant batted .314 with 25 RBIs and Jadlowski hit .306 with 27 RBIs.
Mahan closed with a 7-3 mark and a glossy 2.81 ERA, racking up 57 strikeouts in 73.2 innings. Squires compled a 3.90 ERA.
While Stevens knows there are holes to fill, he is excited for the future.
“We had a lot of young players who had solid seasons,” he said “We expect to be at the top of the conference with our young, talented players and we feel like we have some pretty good ones coming in, too.”