PELLA — Winning both games by the 10-run rule after seven innings, the Central College baseball team swept Loras College 12-2 and 16-3 Saturday afternoon.
The Dutch (13-18, 7-11 American Rivers Conference) offense battered the Duhawks (21-12, 12-6 conference) pitching staff for 28 runs and 26 hits in 14 innings.
"I'm so proud of this team," coach Casey Klunder said. "They came to play today. Results take care of themselves but I love the passion and energy we played with."
Brayden Sawyer (freshman, Grundy Center HS) 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.
"He's been working hard since he got here," Klunder said. "If you wait until your number is called to work hard, it's too late. He's been waiting patiently. We've had a few injuries recently and he was ready when we needed him."
Second baseman Logan McCoy (junior, Galva, Alta-Aurelia HS) 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 (sophomore, Port St. Lucie, Fla., John Carroll HS) 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 (senior, Los Angeles, Calif., John Marshall HS) and Max Steinlage (freshman, Cedar Falls) each had two hits in the nightcap with O'Hare driving in three runs.
"Hopefully this gives us some confidence that we can really do this thing offensively," Klunder said. "
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 (senior, Cedar Rapids, Jefferson HS) 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.
"There's not enough adjectives to describe it," Klunder said. "The moment is never too big for Sam. The more we need him, the tougher he is.
"Declan was great. He really had his breaking ball today. I think that's probably the best he's looked this year. He mixed his pitches well."
The nine seniors on the roster and student coach JD Alberhasky (Iowa City) were honored in between games for Senior Day. In addition to Staley, Finley and O'Hare, Hayden Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo., Doherty HS), Landon Thiele (Moline, Ill.), Caleb Evans (Davenport, Central HS), Brenden Mudd (Greenwood Village, Colo., Cheery Creek HS), Brendan Short (Normal, Ill.), Kurby Vowels (Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) were recognized.
"Those 10 young men embody the values and beliefs of this program," Klunder said. "It's been so fun to watch them grow first and foremost as people, secondly as baseball players. I'm so happy that they got rewarded for their hard work today."
