BASEBALL: Apaches slamming through schedule
By Dan Harcharik
Apache Staff
The IVCC men’s baseball team isn’t afraid to swing at will. The Apaches have been running up run tallies on several occasions so far this season via the long ball or big inning. IVCC (20-13) split against Kankakee Community College on April 7.
Ryan Bailey pitched his first game since coming off knee surgery over the summer and picked up the win. Bailey pitched two innings and allowed three runs in the Apaches’ 22-21 win at home.
Both teams combined for 11 homers, including grand slams by IVCC’s Luke Weld and Matt Glupczynski on the windy afternoon.In game two, Wally Zukowski took the loss as Kankakee won 8-6.
The Apaches traveled to Valparaiso, Ind. on April 8, winning both games. Ottawa product Nathan Miller and Marquette grad Josh Hoffman were IVCC’s winning pitchers.
Dave Hardman doubled in the tying run in the sixth inning of the first game. Joe Sester then hit his ninth home run of the season. Dan Jorgenson got the save.
Hoffman, Jake Resser, and Danny Malloy all pitched for IVCC in game two. The Apaches pounded out 14 hits.
On April 3, the Apaches split against Sauk Valley, which Koopmann described as one of the better teams in the area. Dave Nitz was on the mound for the first game, winning his team-high fifth game. His ERA is 1.14. Luke Weld hit the game winning double.
In the 5-4 second game loss, Billy Terry was on the mound. The Apaches face Sauk Valley again April 19 there.
On April 10, games played after press time, the Apaches were seeking revenge against two loses to Black Hawk on March 22 at home. Black Hawk was the team that put the Apaches out of the playoffs last year.
On April 12 at home, the IVCC men are scheduled to meet Carl Sandburg at 2 p.m. On March 27, the Apaches split with Sandburg, winning the first game 17-0 and losing the second 6 – 1. Koopmann said he was disappointed with the split because he believes the Apaches are a better team.
Since the beginning of the season, Koopmann has been confident in his team’s scoring, but defense has been shaky at times.
“Pitching keeps us in the games,” the coach said. “We have a lot of pitching. We just have to play defense.”