PELLA—The 2021 Central College baseball team is lacking experience but coach Matt Schirm is confident his talent-laden roster will overcome it for a successful season.
           
Heading into last season, the Dutch baseball team was already inexperienced after losing a large crop of graduating seniors in 2019. That experience gap only widened when the 2020 season was cancelled after six games due to the CoVID-19 outbreak that wiped out collegiate baseball schedules nationwide.
           
"The whole situation last year was disappointing," Schirm said. "I think one of the things that makes it particularly difficult is we really didn't get a chance to evaluate a lot of our younger guys who would have played in a lot of JV games last year. Our evaluations for a lot of the younger guys have been primarily practice so we're headed into the season with a lot of uncertainty."
           
Of the projected starters for Central in the field, only catcher Trevor Kimm (senior, Urbandale) and center fielder Lucas Farren (senior, Yorkville, Ill.) have more than 10 starts.      "In terms of position players, we're not experienced," Schirm said. "But we do have a lot of talent. We just need some of the guys to grow up quick and perform well.
           
The American Rivers Conference extended teams' series to four games with a pair of doubleheaders on the weekends.

"Because the doubleheaders are a seven-inning game and a nine-inning game, it's not a ton more innings," Schirm said. "I'm really happy the conference presidents approved that because the non-conference opportunities are really difficult to come by. Maximizing our conference season is huge for us."
           
The new format rewards pitching depth, one area of the roster Schirm feels confident.

"Our team is prepared to go into this new format as well as anybody because of our pitching depth," he said. "Our top-end guys are as good as any other school and I really feel like we an advantage with our relief guys."   

Catcher
With nearly 100 games started in his career, Kimm brings veteran leadership to this year's team. In six games last season, he was hitting .409 with five extra-base hits and five RBI. Kimm took advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA to return for a fifth season.
           
"Our guys love throwing to him," Schirm said. "He does a good job receiving and blocking and he's worked really hard at his throwing. He is likely going to be a middle of the order bat for us. What he brings offensively is just as important as defensively."
           
Sophomore Brenden Mudd (sophomore, Englewood, Colo., Cherry Creek HS) is ready to go whenever Kimm needs a rest.
           
"Brenden's really impressed us with his performance and his intangibles," Schirm said. "He's the only sophomore voted to our leadership council. With us playing four-game weekend series this year, I expect him to get some time back there."
           
Central also boasts senior Jack Linforth (Northbrook, Ill., Glenbrook North HS) as another option at catcher.

Infield
A pair of seniors top the depth chart at first base for the Dutch. Jon Rozeboom (Waukee) appeared in 14 games in 2019, primarily as a designated hitter. He notched a .242 batting average while driving in six runs. Kyle Wright (Manchester, West Delaware HS) has not played the field in a varsity game but has made nine pitching appearances.

"They're kind of neck and neck at that position," Schirm said. "They both might get some opportunities early. I'm comfortable with both defensively and they've made strides offensively."

On the other side of the diamond, Declan O'Hare (sophomore, Los Angeles, Calif., John Marshall HS) is a returning starter at third base. He got the nod in all six games last year, recording a .158 batting average with 2 RBI.

"He came back with 10 pounds of good muscle," Schirm said. "He's a workhorse and is in the hitting cage constantly. He definitely is the front-runner at third base and he has the potential to be one of our best bats, too."
           
Shortstop Kyle Hauser (senior, Belvidere, Ill., North HS) is also back after all six games in 2020. He only managed one hit but did record a .300 on-base percentage with five walks.
           
"Kyle is outstanding defensively, he's definitely our best defensive shortstop," Schirm said. "We need him to perform better offensively but he has a lot of tools. He runs very well so if we can get him on base he can be asset for us."
           
Farren has split his time between the outfield and second base throughout his career but looks to be headed to the outfield in 2021. Without Farren, senior Chris Hensley (Ottumwa) has the most varsity game experience of the contenders but primarily as a pinch runner. Junior Quinn Miller (Cedar Rapids, Xavier HS) will get the first start and is versatile enough that he is also an option at third and shortstop.
           
"He's just an all-around good infielder," Schirm said. "He's come a long way offensively and had a really good summer season in Omaha. Chris is a senior captain and is definitely in the mix there."

Juniors Jared Kampf (Peoria, Ariz., Mountain Ridge HS) could play in the infield but is initially starting in left field. Senior Collin Lefeber (Omaha, Neb., Central HS) is another option at second base as well.   

Outfield
Farren is a career .220 hitter having played in 47 games while splitting time between the outfield and second base. While still an option at second base this season, the focus early for him is the outfield.
           
"It's likely that Farren will play center field," Schirm said. "We feel really good about him there. He can be a really stabilizing force out there.
           
Tyler Sass (freshman, Lincoln, Neb., Southwest HS) is a strong candidate to start the season in right field but Landon Vander Leest (junior, Pella) could be a factor as well.
           
"Tyler has a really good shot to play right field for us," Schirm said. "Landon is a pitcher first but he's also one of our best athletes. He's been working out there as well."
           
Primarily an infielder his first two seasons, Kampf is the starter in left field.
           
"Jared has gotten a ton better and will probably get the first shot," Schirm said.
           
Behind Kampf in left field, Ian Boline (junior, Alburnett) and Zach Doehrmann (junior, Williamsburg) are vying for action.
           
"Ian came in as an infielder and we moved him to the outfield because we thought he'd have a better shot to play there," Schirm said.  He's improved leaps and bounds. Doehermann has worked really hard and come a long way."

As the weather gets warmer and practice moves outside, Schirm is optimistic he can get a better read on each player's defensive capabilities.
           
"It's tough with the outfield because you can't do a whole lot indoors," Schirm said. "It's hard to evaluate their jumps and reads and routes to fly balls. A lot of it is offense at this point and both Ian and Zach have performed well offensively.
           
Vander Leest and Seth Mora (sophomore, Pueblo, Colo., South HS) could also figure into the mix in left field.

Designated hitter
Mudd will get the first shot in the designated hitter role but two additional names to watch at designated hitter for the Dutch are Dawson Hensley (junior, Shakopee, Minn.) and Vander Leest. Hensley is down the depth chart as a catcher and first base but could force his way into the lineup with his bat.

"Dawson can really hit so he's a legitimate option at DH" Schirm said.

Pitcher
With the switch to four-game conference weekend schedules, Schirm says his team is ready with a quartet of talented upperclassmen. Ryan Riddle (senior, Omaha, Neb., Mount Michael HS) won his only start of 2020 after coming out of the bullpen with nine saves in 2019. He's struck out 43 batters in 40 career innings.

"If he's not our number one starter, he'll be right up there," Schirm said.

Vander Leest made two appearances including one start as a junior in the shortened 2020 campaign. He had a 1.29 ERA and opponents hit .125 against him.

"He's definitely one of our most talented pitchers," Schirm said.

Marcus Wenzel (senior, Chicago, Ill., Luther North College Prep) has logged 38 career innings with a 2-0 record in 23 appearances. With only one career start, Wenzel looks to move into more of a starting role.

"We think he'll likely be a conference starter for us," Schirm said.

Another former reliever, Nathan Schwanke (senior, Omaha, Neb., Concordia HS) has made 24 appearances without a start. In 35.2 innings, he sports a 4.54 ERA and opponents hit .284 against him.    
           
"Nathan doesn't have nearly the velocity of those other guys, but he's just such a competitor on the mound," Schirm said. "He's probably our best competitor."
           
A starting rotation of upperclassmen will give way to a bullpen full of talented young arms. O'Hare made one relief appearance and will come in from third base when needed. Sophomores Landon Thiele (Moline, Ill.), Drew Coffman (Grinnell), Sam Staley (Cedar Rapids, Jefferson HS) and Kurby Vowels (Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) will also be some of the first relief options.
           
"Landon has really good stuff and can locate well," Schirm said. "Drew has tons of talent but just needs to show more consistently. Sam is a super hard worker and Kurby has a bulldog mentality on the mound.
           
Senior lefty Kyle Wright will figure in pending the situation at first base. Connor Blair (senior, New Lenox, Ill., Lincoln Way West HS) could be in the mix as well. Tyler Steward (senior, Norwalk) made six starts in his first three seasons but is trying to battle back from shoulder woes and won't be available until late in the season, if at all.

Schirm also cites sophomore Caleb Evans (Davenport, Central HS) and freshman Parker Jones (Verona, Wis., Verona Area HS) as having exciting potential.
           
"Caleb had Tommy John surgery as a senior in high school and wasn't going to be ready to pitch last year either way," Schirm said. "He's fully healthy now and has looked really good for us. Parker is a high-velocity guy. He'll need to gain some more experience."

The season
           
Central does get four non-conference games before start of the league slate. The Dutch are headed to Fulton, Missouri for games against Monmouth College (Ill.) and Westminster College (Mo.)  March 6 and have a doubleheader at Millikin University (Ill.) in Decatur, Illinois March 13.
           
The conference season opens at home, March 18 against Coe College with the second doubleheader March 20. The Dutch also have home series against Luther College (April 2-3), Nebraska Wesleyan University (April 30-May 1) and Simpson College (May 14, May 16).