Sower sports roundup, week of April 5
By Kai Olbrich
Sports Editor
Softball
Concordia softball battled Great Athletic Planes Conference foes this week, with four victories against two losses in a six-game span. The Bulldogs swept Hastings College 2-0 and 8-3 on April 6. They split a doubleheader on April 8 against Mount Marty, 3-6 and 13-3, and tied a two-game set against Northwestern 4-2 and 5-7 on April 11.
Junior Keira Ferritor contributed offence all week but had the game of her life in the second game against Mount Mary, where she hit three home runs in three at-bats. Ferritor knocked in eight runs that day, tallying a total of 10 RBIs with four extra-base hits this week.
Freshman Mary Beth Hart helped fuel offensive production this week, mustering five extra-base knocks among her 12 hits. Beth Hart also recorded a three-steal game in the Bulldogs’ win over Mount Marty.
Senior Grace Zuagg lifted Concordia past Hastings in the first game this week, with a two-run homerun. Senior teammate Tobi Topp hit a critical 3 RBI home run in the Bulldogs’ win over Northwestern. Topp recorded two home runs and a double in competition this week.
On the mound this week, junior Kaylei Denison shut out Hastings in a complete game with seven strikeouts. Denison got the loss in a four-inning start against Mount Marty but recorded a second win and a complete game against Northwestern to move her personal record to 9-8 on the season.
Freshman Kierstyn Linn pitched five innings to earn the win against Mount Marty. Linn took the loss against Northwestern, giving up four earned runs. Linn now has five wins and four losses on the season.
Bulldog softball stands at 17-14 on the season and sixth in the GPAC standings. Concordia heads on the road to face Midland University in a two-game set on April 14.
Men’s Tennis
The Concordia men’s tennis team turned in a pair of dominant conference performances this past week, sweeping both Midland University and Mount Marty University to improve to 15-4 overall and 3-1 in GPAC play.
On April 8, the Bulldogs earned a commanding 7-0 victory over Midland at the Bulldog Tennis Courts in Seward. Concordia set the tone early by sweeping all three doubles matches. The pair of Leo Lopez and Daniel Caballeros led the way with a 7-5 win at No. 1, while Hugo Fuentes and Nick Velders rolled to a 6-0 victory. Ben Chisholm and Ognjen Gajic completed the doubles sweep with a 6-2 result.
In singles play, Concordia continued its dominance by winning all six matches in straight sets. Fuentes (6-2, 6-3) and Velders (6-2, 6-0) controlled the top spots, while Caballeros battled to a 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 win. Lopez, Chisholm, and Gajic each added decisive victories to secure the shutout.
The Bulldogs followed up with another 7-0 sweep over Mount Marty, showcasing their depth and consistency. In doubles action, Lopez and Caballeros earned a 6-1 win, while Gajic and Chisholm added a 6-2 victory. The duo of Santiago Abadia and Michael Bedrosian secured the third point by forfeit.
Singles play was equally dominant, as Concordia dropped just three total games across five completed matches. Velders and Gajic each posted perfect 6-0, 6-0 wins, while Lopez earned a 6-0, 6-1 victory. Caballeros (6-2, 6-3) and Abadia (6-1, 6-0) also contributed strong performances. Bedrosian picked up a win by forfeit to complete the sweep.
With back-to-back shutouts, the Bulldogs continue to build momentum as they move deeper into conference play on the road to Doane University.
Women’s Tennis
The Concordia women’s tennis team split a pair of conference matches this past week, edging Midland University 4-3 before responding with dominant 7-0 sweeps over Northwestern College and Mount Marty. The Bulldogs now stand at 13-5 overall and 4-1 in GPAC play.
On April 8, Concordia earned a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Midland at the Bulldog Tennis Courts. The Bulldogs dropped the doubles point, with their lone win coming from the duo of Alana Lopez Pagan and Chakira Derman, who secured a 7-5 victory.
In singles play, Concordia rallied with four key wins to clinch the match. Mariana Molano led the way with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 1, while Chakira Derman followed with a 6-3, 6-3 victory. Lopez Pagan delivered a dominant 6-0, 6-0 performance, and Nina Milic added a 6-1, 6-2 win to secure the decisive fourth point.
The Bulldogs carried that momentum into April 11, where they turned in a commanding 7-0 sweep of Northwestern College at Walz Fieldhouse. Concordia controlled the match from the outset, sweeping all three doubles contests. The pair of Ishane Derman and Molano set the tone with a 6-0 win, while Lopez Pagan and Chakira Derman followed with a 6-2 victory. Erin Norby and Jacey Powell completed the doubles sweep with another 6-2 result.
In singles action, Concordia continued its dominance by winning all six matches in straight sets. Molano battled to a 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 1, while Chakira Derman and Ishane Derman posted decisive victories. Lopez Pagan, Alexa Richert, and Nina Milic each added strong performances to complete the shutout.
Concordia didn’t let up against Mount Marty either and swept the competition without losing a set in singles or doubles.
With the bounce-back sweep, the Bulldogs continue to build momentum as they move further into conference play away to Doane University.
Track and Field
The track and field team competed at the Hastings Invite on April 11, where they achieved multiple first-place finishes.
The hurdles were a strong event for Concordia as senior Adrianna Rodencal took first in the women’s 100-meter hurdles in 13.52 seconds, and freshman Braxton Borer claimed the title in the men’s 110-meter hurdles with a 15.12. Senior Josi Noble then went on to win the women’s 400-meter hurdles in 1:05.90, and senior Liam Fagan was runner-up on the men’s side with a 57.90.
The Bulldogs took two podium spots in the open 400. Sophomore Lucas Corwin came first in the men’s race in 50.51, while senior Kayla Kirchner took second in the women’s race in 1:01.85.
There was some sibling success in the 1500 as junior Trey Robertson won the men’s race in 4:10.66, while his sister, Ashley Robertson, earned runners-up honors on the women’s side with a 4:59.57.
The men’s racewalkers were up to their usual exploits as the squad swept the top three, led by sophomore Jonny Jurchen. Jurchen finished the race in 21:44.43, followed by freshman Jack Habegger in 23:39.88 and junior Luke Hammang in 25:15.64.
Freshman Cooper Stokebrand showed out in the men’s discus with a 47.69-meter throw that earned him first place. Freshman Byron Ostdiek came first in the men’s shot put with a 14.77-meter mark. Sophomore Harpe Boche represented the women’s throws with a top mark in the hammer throw of 48.60 meters. Boche also placed first in the shot put with a 13.11-meter throw.
Sophomore Adysen McCarter placed first in the women’s triple jump with an 11.83-meter mark. Junior Addie Reimer and sophomore Kennedee Canales went one and two in the women’s long jump, Reimer jumping 5.09 meters and Canales going 5.07. Junior Emry Gutz came second in the men’s javelin with a 59.46-meter throw that earned him the B standard for national qualification.
The field events earned some more second-place results as well, with senior Myles Sadd in the men’s high jump and junior Emma Kucera in the women’s javelin.
The Bulldogs will be back in action on April 16 for the Doane University Invite.
Men’s golf
The Concordia Bulldog men’s golf team competed in the Bulldog-Tiger Cup on Saturday and was defeated 18.5-2.5 by the Doane Tigers’ men’s golf team.
The event followed a match play format with both doubles and singles competition. In doubles play, Concordia recorded one win and one tie.
Senior Brock Rogers and junior Jacob Dowd earned a three-and-one victory, while freshman Logan Krabbenhoft and Freshman Charles Summy all squared.
In singles play, Concordia’s only win came from freshman Kamden Zomer, who secured a 2-up victory. The next match is the Great Plains Athletic Conference Championship at Dakota Dunes.
