Photo courtesy of Iowa Central: Iowa Central teammates Jackson Tessman (24) and Peter Johnson celebrate at Rogers Park.
The Iowa Central baseball team, currently ranked fourth, maintains its exceptional performance in the early phase of the season. In their recent matchups, the Tritons consistently scored over 10 runs in each game of the doubleheaders, culminating in a comprehensive four-game sweep of Moberly Area at Rogers Park. The scores for the games were 11-0 and 14-6.
With these victories, Iowa Central’s overall record now stands at 20-0, surpassing the previous best start in school history set by the 2015-16 team at 18-2. Head coach Eric Stein of ICCC expressed his pride in the team’s daily commitment to winning, acknowledging the talent of the players while emphasizing the continuous room for improvement, especially considering the challenges posed by upcoming games on the schedule.
The competitive landscape within the league is highlighted by other strong teams such as Southeastern (ranked sixth) and Kirkwood (ranked eleventh). Notably, eight out of the 12 ICCAC teams currently boast winning records with at least 10 wins each.
In a recent doubleheader against Moberly Area amid adverse weather conditions, the Tritons showcased their offensive prowess by hitting a total of nine home runs across the two games, including a remarkable five in the second game. Standout performances came from players like Cooper Nicholson and Will Smoot, each contributing multiple home runs, supported by a strong pitching display from Justin Benjamin and CJ Byrdak.
The offensive momentum continued in the subsequent games, with four additional home runs in the doubleheader. Noteworthy contributions came from players like Josh Kirchhoff on the mound and hitters such as Peter Johnson, Jack Mausser, and Harrison Bowman. The team’s collective effort and focus on maintaining their performance level despite external expectations and pressures have been key to their success.
Looking ahead, Iowa Central is gearing up to face Lake Region State from North Dakota in a four-game series starting Saturday, poised to extend their winning streak and uphold their competitive edge in the league.