04/17/2025 Pella, IA- Westminster College faced a challenging but exciting two-game series against Central College (Iowa) on April 15th. The Blue Jays showcased their offensive depth and resilience, though they experienced both the highs of a commanding win and the disappointment of a narrow loss. In the first game, Westminster's potent offense led them to a decisive 14-5 victory, driven by standout performances from Keli'i Price, Beno Ballard, and Brett Montgomery. However, in the second game, despite another strong offensive effort, the Blue Jays fell short in a thrilling 11-10 battle. With both games demonstrating their offensive strength and competitive spirit, Westminster looks to build on these performances as they move forward in the season.
Westminster 14, Central College (Iowa) 5
Westminster College came out strong on Tuesday, securing an impressive 14-5 victory over Central College (Iowa) in a commanding display of offensive firepower and solid pitching. The Blue Jays' offense was relentless throughout the game, with key contributions from multiple players. Keli'i Price led the way, going 3-for-6 with a 3-run home run and 3 RBIs, while Beno Ballard also impressed with a 2-RBI homer. Brett Montgomery had a standout day at the plate, collecting 4 hits and driving in 3 runs, including a double and a triple. Domenic Nordmann added 2 RBIs, and Aden Pecka chipped in with 2 RBIs of his own, showcasing Westminster's balanced offensive attack.
From the mound, Derek Archer earned the win, pitching 3.1 innings and allowing just 1 run on 3 hits, while striking out 5. The bullpen was effective, with James Duckworth, TJ Grassl, Salvador Moncada, Charlie Schweppe, and Richard Decola all contributing to keep Central Iowa at bay. Duckworth, despite allowing 3 runs in his 1.1 innings of work, was able to navigate through Central's lineup with solid strikeouts, and Schweppe and Decola followed with shutout innings to close out the game.
The Blue Jays' defense was steady overall, though they committed a couple of errors, but the offense more than made up for it. Westminster took control of the game early with a 6-0 lead after two innings and never looked back.
Central College (Iowa) 11, Westminster 10
In a thrilling and closely contested rematch the following day, Westminster College fell short against Central College (Iowa), losing 11-10 in a dramatic back-and-forth affair. The game was full of scoring surges, with Westminster keeping pace with Central through much of the contest. Keli'i Price continued his strong performance from the previous game, hitting a 3-run home run and collecting 3 RBIs, while going 3-for-6 at the plate. Brett Montgomery also had a solid game, adding 2 RBIs and contributing 2 hits, while Domenic Nordmann drove in 2 RBIs.
Westminster's offense was potent, putting up 10 runs on 11 hits, but the Blue Jays were unable to overcome a 5-run third inning by Central. Central's offense capitalized on a series of Westminster pitching missteps in the third, scoring 5 runs on 4 hits, including key RBI singles and walks. Despite rallying in the fourth inning with a 3-run homer from Price to take a 7-6 lead, the Blue Jays could not sustain their momentum as Central answered with a 3-run homer of their own, taking back the lead.
The Blue Jays fought back in the later innings, scoring 2 runs in the eighth to cut the deficit to 11-10, but they couldn't manage to push across any more runs in the final frame. Despite solid individual performances, Westminster left 12 runners on base, with missed opportunities in the middle innings coming back to haunt them.
On the mound, Westminster struggled to find consistency, with Colyn Wright giving up 5 runs in just 1.0 inning of work. Brett Cira took the loss, surrendering 3 more runs in the fifth inning. The bullpen was mixed, with Mason Kempker, TJ Grassl, and Richard Decola offering effective relief, but the Blue Jays couldn't overcome the early deficit. The loss dropped Westminster's record to 15-16 on the season, but they showed resilience and offensive firepower, even in defeat.