Central softball defense sparkles in sweep
PELLA The difference was defense as the Central College softball team overcame a sputtering offensive start and swept Buena Vista University 9-5 and 4-1 Thursday.
The Dutch (17-10 overall, 15-8 American Rivers) not only played errorless ball but dazzled defensively at times. Held scoreless in the first four innings of the opener, Central jumped on a pair of Buena Vista errors to roll up six runs on just two hits in the fifth inning and added three runs in the sixth before holding off a late BV surge.
“Our defense has been pretty solid,” coach George Wares said.
The difference was defense as the Central College softball team overcame a sputtering offensive start and swept Buena Vista University 9-5 and 4-1 Thursday. The Dutch (17-10 overall, 15-8 American Rivers) not only played errorless ball but dazzled defensively at times. Held scoreless in the first four innings of the opener, Central jumped on a pair of Buena Vista errors to roll up six runs on just two hits in the fifth inning and added three runs in the sixth before holding off a late BV surge.
Senior Denae Howes entered as a pinch-runner in the fifth inning, stole second and scored but Central batted around and coach George Wares left her in the lineup to hit while still in the fifth. It was just the second at-bat of the season for Howes, but she roped a line drive just beyond the grasp of the Buena Vista shortstop for a two-run hit to highlight the frame, along with a well-placed two-run single by Dutch shortstop Daria Parchert who shortened up and punched a two-strike pitch throu