Caleb Rangel April 4, 2009

Central blows away Simpson 15-3

INDIANOLA—Left fielder Caleb Rangel (sophomore, Rock Island, Ill., Alleman HS) and catcher Josh Stanton (freshman, Homer Glen, Ill., Lockport Township HS) each had four hits to help fuel a 15-3 wind-powered romp for the Central College baseball team at Simpson College Saturday.

The win allowed the Dutch (10-11 overall, 5-4 Iowa Conference) to score a victory in the teams’ three-game series after splitting a doubleheader Friday night. Simpson slipped to 14-9 overall and 7-4 in the league.

With a powerful wind blowing out to center field, Rangel drove in five runs and scored three runs, raising his season average to .412 with 21 RBIs.

“Caleb continues to have good at-bats every time he’s up there,” coach Adam Stevens said.

Stanton was making just the third start of his college career.

“Josh is another freshman who is doing well for us,” Stevens said. “He’s gotten more opportunities lately and is taking advantage of it. He’s also doing a great job behind the plate.”

The Dutch also got a home run and five RBIs from right fielder Jarred Lackey (Somerton, Ariz., Cibola HS). It was the third homer for Lackey, who has a team-high 26 RBIs.

Central racked up 20 hits while Dutch hurler Corey Eisenmann (freshman, Bloomingdale, Ill., Driscoll Catholic HS) allowed just two earned runs in 7.1 innings, improving to 2-2. He gave up eight hits, walked two and struck out a career-best 11 batters.

“The wind was blowing out and our guys took advantage of that,” Stevens said. “But that also tells you how well Corey Eisenmann pitched today. He did an outstanding job. He had great stuff today.”

Trevor Talbott (junior, Sioux City, East HS) threw one-hit ball over the final 1.2 innings.

“The thing our pitchers are doing is they’re really competing well,” Stevens said. “And our defense is playing well behind them.”

After grabbing a 6-0 lead in the second inning, Central missed some scoring chances and the lead dwindled to 6-2 heading into the eighth inning. But the Dutch put the game away with four runs in the eighth inning and five in the ninth.

Central rebounded admirably from an extra-inning defeat in the series opener Friday to win the last two games of the series, despite having little rest. The Dutch didn’t return to Pella until 12:30 a.m. Saturday and were back on the team bus heading to Indianola less than nine hours later.

“I’ve never questioned these players’ attitudes,” Stevens said. “They’re always ready to play. It’s a great group. I just hope we keep improving and keep winning conference series. That’s always our goal.”

Central travels to Grinnell College for a non-conference game at 2 p.m. Tuesday.  The Dutch defeated Grinnell 6-2 at Pella March 25. Central then returns home for a three-game series with the Univ. of Dubuque Friday and Saturday.