Central opens weekend baseball series with a win

Dutch pitcher Torbit shines in league debut

by Joseph Flaherty

Dubuque, IA (03/24/2025) — A stellar introduction to the American Rivers Conference by freshman starting pitcher Jackson Torbit (St. Louis, Mo., Webster Groves HS) propelled the Central College Dutch baseball team to a 6-1 win Friday night at the University of Dubuque.

Central (9-4, 1-0 American Rivers) sent Torbit out to the mound for the first of the three-game series against the Spartans (5-7, 0-1 conference). He responded with seven sensational innings, striking out 10 batters and allowing one run on four hits with three walks. He needed just 89 pitches.

"He attacked the zone and stayed consistent," coach Adam Carey said. "He didn't get too high, and he didn't get too low with his emotions. He competed like an upper classman today."

Bryce Haessig (junior, Huxley, Ballard HS) closed out the game with two innings of scoreless relief with one strikeout and two hits allowed

The Dutch lineup struggled the first time through against the Spartans senior pitcher Aidan Elfering, striking out seven times in the first nine batters. A leadoff double in the fourth inning by right fielder Jaden Kramer (junior, Cedar Falls) eventually led to the first run of the game. Left fielder Dylan Williams (junior, Woods Cross, Utah) had an RBI single in the fifth to extend Central's lead to 2-0.

"I was impressed with our constant problem solving after the first time through the lineup," Carey said. "They were talking to each other about the shape of pitches, tendencies, etc. When Kramer started the fourth off with a double, we rallied around it.

Four hits in the sixth inning, including a leadoff triple by center fielder Max Steinlage (junior, Cedar Falls) led to a three-run frame. Catcher Dom DeLaPaz (senior, Davenport, West HS), shortstop Garrett Guenther (sophomore, Grayslake, Ill., Central HS) and designated hitter Caleb Douglass (senior, Windsor, Colo.) each tallied an RBI in the inning. Williams led off the seventh with a solo home run for the team's sixth and final run.

"We did a really good job of sticking to what we do in the box, regardless of the result," Carey said. "And in the end, the result ended up being good because of it."

The two teams are back on the field in Dubuque on Saturday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

Caleb

Douglass