SWCC splits weekend with Iowa Lakes

CLARINDA – Southwestern Community College and Iowa Lakes Community College split a weather-shortened two-game series this past week.

The Spartans earned a 5-2 win in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader thanks to another impressive display on the mound from Oscar Rivera.

The two-time ICCAC player of the week this season fanned nine batters on his way to a complete game win while allowing just four hits and just one earned run.

Rivera’s stuff has continued to impress Spartans head coach Kenny Namanny so far this year and Rivera has been the starting pitcher in all three of SWCC’s wins thus far.

“He’s just been really competitive every time he takes the hill,” said Namanny. “He throws a lot of different pitches in the zone from different arm angles ... he just really keeps the hitters off balance.”

The balance in his pitches has helped him to toss two complete games this season.

“He’s commanding all of his pitches really. Just filling up the zone,” Namanny said. “Using different arm angles. His fastball will run upper 80s and he’ll get a lot of run and cutting action. He throws a curveball, a slider and also a changeup as well. Everything is working for him right now.”

Stephan Soto and Nathan Torres both drove in two runs for SWCC as the Spartans scored four times in the bottom of the sixth.

The third rotation through the lineup proved to be costly for the Lakers as their starter, Martin Eckhard, had allowed just one run to cross the plate before the Spartan bats broke it open in the sixth.

Pedro Nazario also picked up two hits and a walk for SWCC and continues to be the Spartans’ hottest hitter, now batting .367 at the plate with a .535 on-base percentage.

Continuing to be aggressive

The Spartans fell by way of an 8-0 shutout in game two after Nick Houzenga gave up four earned runs with four walks in two-thirds of an inning to start the game.

Ronnie Wigginton came to the bump in relief and struck out 10 batters in 6 1/3 innings pitched.

The Lakers plated four more runs, but only two were credited against Wigginton.

Namanny mentioned that his pitching staff needs to continue to be aggressive around the zone and not worry as much about getting hit as the Spartans have now walked 76 batters in 79.1 innings of play.

“I think some of our pitchers are kind of afraid to get hit,” said Namanny. “They’re thrown into a college game and they get hit around a little bit and they’re trying

almost too hard to be good. They just need to get back to what they do well.”

The Spartans also had some troubles at the plate leaving runners stranded in scoring positions and the skipper also noted that his team needs to continue to stay wary at the dish.

“I think guys are kind of overanalyzing rather then just settling in and attacking the baseball,” said Namanny. “We want our guys to be a little more aggressive early on because we’re taking pitches, getting behind and then we can’t get out.”

Quentin Sefrit of Bedford also recorded a hit in each game of the doubleheader for the Spartans.

UP NEXT – The split puts the Spartans at 3-11 on the year and closes out the team’s meetings with Iowa Lakes.

Southwestern will head back to Clarinda Saturday for four games against Minnesota West Community & Technical College (1-5) with two doubleheaders being played on Saturday and Sunday.

Namanny is looking to pick up some wins and build some confidence before the Spartans enter conference play on March 30 against Marshalltown.

“Over the next three weeks we hope to pick up some wins,” said Namanny. “It’s hopefully going to be a turning point in our season and kind of go on a run here going into conference play.”

Recent commitments

Three Spartan baseball players have committed to continue playing ball at the next level.

Jose Mendez verbally committed to continue playing baseball at Park University on Feb. 26.

Nick Houzenga of Muscatine committed to continue his academic and baseball career at Wichita State University in Wichita, Kan. March 12.

Stephen Soto announced he will be continuing his academic and baseball career at Alabama A&M in Huntsville, Ala. next fall.

Kaleb Carter contributed to this report