Centerville -- Pitchers Jordan Piche and A.J. McElderry lead the list of Indian Hills Community College baseball players named to the All-Region team.
Piche and McElderry were the Falcons’ first-team choices on the all-region squad. IHCC also had two second-team picks – freshmen Adam Deneke and Taylor Ostrich – and six players who received honorable mention accolades. They are sophomores Yuliecer Arias, Guillermo Cruz, Cashtyn DeLeeuw, Jeremy Delgado and Levi Grassley and freshman Jake Stalzer.
This year’s IHCC pitching staff had an ERA of over one run a game lower than in 2011 and Piche and McElderry were two big reasons for that.
Piche had a 9-4 record – leading the team in wins – and a 2.66 ERA with a team-high 85 strikeouts in 88 innings. He led the Falcons with seven complete games and has signed to play for the Kansas Jayhawks next year.
McElderry assumed the closer’s role early in the season and had a 0.74 ERA with a 4-1 record and eight saves in 20 appearances. He struck out 27 in 24 1/3 innings.
The two second-team selections from IHCC were two of the top hitters this year. Ostrich had the best batting average at .346 and also led in walks (21) and on-base percentage (.440). He slugged 17 doubles and two homers and drove in 31 runs.
Deneke hit .313 with 15 doubles, two triples, three home runs and a team-best slugging percentage of .500. He also appeared in six games as a pitcher with a 1-1 record and 2.53 ERA.
Arias – a second-team all-region pick last year – and Cruz both significantly improved their offensive performance in their second year at IHCC. Arias’ batting average jumped from .316 to .340 with team highs in at-bats (212), runs (42), hits (72), doubles (18), RBIs (33) and total bases (95). Cruz went from a .250 average as a freshman to .304 this season. He led the squad in steals with 24.
Delgado and Grassley both transferred to Indian Hills for their sophomore campaign. Delgado hit .311and led the team with four triples. Grassley had a .278 average, nine doubles, a triple and four homers.
DeLeeuw put together a solid season on the mound with a 2.79 ERA and a 7-2 record, the identical won-loss record he had as a freshman. He had 68 Ks in 68 IP and started a staff-high 13 games.
Stalzer came on strong at the end of the season, winning three games in two weeks to wind up 4-2 with a 3.55 ERA. The lefty had six complete games and fanned 60 in 50 2/3 innings.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
Falcons' Season Ends in Region 11 Title Game
Centerville, IA -- Indian Hills battled to stay alive in the Region 11 tournament with a victory against Marshalltown CC on Sunday, but the momentum was short-lived as region champ Iowa Western CC scored 12 runs in the 1st inning of the championship game and ended the Falcons' season with an 18-4 win.
It was Indian Hills' second loss in the three-day tourney to Iowa Western and the win against MCC was the second time during the weekend and the 9th time in 10 games this spring they had defeated the Tigers.
The Sunday win against MCC came after Indian Hills overcame a 5-4 deficit with two runs in the 7th inning and one in the 8th to advance with a 7-5 victory. Taylor Ostrich doubled home the tying run and scored the go-ahead tally on a single by Guillermo Cruz. Yuliecer Arias -- who enjoyed an outstanding tournament with nine hits and six runs scored -- singled to score an insurance run in the next inning.
Starter Jake Stalzer went six solid innings for the Falcons and left with a runner on and a 4-2 lead. The Tigers pushed across three more runs against two IHCC relievers. A.J. McElderry came on to throw two innings of scoreless relief and he got the save.
Marshalltown took a 1-0 lead in the 1st. The Falcons scored two in the 2nd and two more in the 6th using doubles by Cruz and Tyler Hermann to get on the board in the 2nd and four singles for their two runs in the 6th.
Arias, Cruz and Levi Grassley had two hits each for the Falcons.
But things quickly went south in Sunday's second game. No. 1 ranked Iowa Western erupted for their dozen runs in the 1st and tacked on six more after that. The Falcons didn't help themselves with some poor defense, causing ten of the runs to be unearned.
IHCC got a run in the 1st and was scoreless after that until the 9th when Jason Bonilla slugged his team-leading 8th homer of the season, a three-run shot.
The tournament got off to a very good start for Indian Hills on Friday when Cashtyn DeLeeuw went 6 2/3 strong innings and his teammates backed him with some timely hitting in a 6-1 win.
Jake Stalzer pitched the final 2 1/3 innings in relief and he and DeLeeuw spaced eight hits and four walks to hold the Tigers to a lone run.
IHCC got single tallies in the 1st, 3rd and 4th innings and scored three in the 6th.
Jeremy Delgado and Arias each had a pair of hits and Delgado and Adam Deneke scored twice.
On Saturday, Iowa Western broke a scoreless tie with a run in the 4th, added two more in the 6th and then scored six times over their final three at-bats on the way to a 9-4 victory over the Falcons.
Jordan Piche pitched the first eight innings for IHCC and McElderry finished up.
Indian Hills couldn't generate much offense against IWCC starter Tanner Krietmeier until the 7th when Zach Sims singled and scored.
They scored another run in the 8th and used four singles to plate two in the 9th.
Arias had a three-hit game and Ostrich and Sims had two safeties each. IHCC outhit the Reivers, 12-11, but all 12 Falcons hits were singles.
Indian Hills, which entered the tourney with the No. seed after going 20-12 in conference play, ends the season with a 35-24 record.
It was Indian Hills' second loss in the three-day tourney to Iowa Western and the win against MCC was the second time during the weekend and the 9th time in 10 games this spring they had defeated the Tigers.
The Sunday win against MCC came after Indian Hills overcame a 5-4 deficit with two runs in the 7th inning and one in the 8th to advance with a 7-5 victory. Taylor Ostrich doubled home the tying run and scored the go-ahead tally on a single by Guillermo Cruz. Yuliecer Arias -- who enjoyed an outstanding tournament with nine hits and six runs scored -- singled to score an insurance run in the next inning.
Starter Jake Stalzer went six solid innings for the Falcons and left with a runner on and a 4-2 lead. The Tigers pushed across three more runs against two IHCC relievers. A.J. McElderry came on to throw two innings of scoreless relief and he got the save.
Marshalltown took a 1-0 lead in the 1st. The Falcons scored two in the 2nd and two more in the 6th using doubles by Cruz and Tyler Hermann to get on the board in the 2nd and four singles for their two runs in the 6th.
Arias, Cruz and Levi Grassley had two hits each for the Falcons.
But things quickly went south in Sunday's second game. No. 1 ranked Iowa Western erupted for their dozen runs in the 1st and tacked on six more after that. The Falcons didn't help themselves with some poor defense, causing ten of the runs to be unearned.
IHCC got a run in the 1st and was scoreless after that until the 9th when Jason Bonilla slugged his team-leading 8th homer of the season, a three-run shot.
The tournament got off to a very good start for Indian Hills on Friday when Cashtyn DeLeeuw went 6 2/3 strong innings and his teammates backed him with some timely hitting in a 6-1 win.
Jake Stalzer pitched the final 2 1/3 innings in relief and he and DeLeeuw spaced eight hits and four walks to hold the Tigers to a lone run.
IHCC got single tallies in the 1st, 3rd and 4th innings and scored three in the 6th.
Jeremy Delgado and Arias each had a pair of hits and Delgado and Adam Deneke scored twice.
On Saturday, Iowa Western broke a scoreless tie with a run in the 4th, added two more in the 6th and then scored six times over their final three at-bats on the way to a 9-4 victory over the Falcons.
Jordan Piche pitched the first eight innings for IHCC and McElderry finished up.
Indian Hills couldn't generate much offense against IWCC starter Tanner Krietmeier until the 7th when Zach Sims singled and scored.
They scored another run in the 8th and used four singles to plate two in the 9th.
Arias had a three-hit game and Ostrich and Sims had two safeties each. IHCC outhit the Reivers, 12-11, but all 12 Falcons hits were singles.
Indian Hills, which entered the tourney with the No. seed after going 20-12 in conference play, ends the season with a 35-24 record.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Former Falcon Falu Triples in First MLB At Bat
Centerville, IA -- After 10 years and over 900 games in the minor leagues, former Indian Hills Falcon Irving Falu had a memorable major league debut on Sunday for the Kansas City Royals.
The switch-hitting Falu was called up to the Royals at the start of their weekend series with the New York Yankees. And after waiting patiently, or most likely impatiently, for three games, he got the start at shortstop in Sunday's series finale.
In his first big-league at bat, Falu, wearing number 19, tripled to right field against New York starter Phil Hughes. He added a single in the 5th inning and later scored his first run.
"He's put his time in," Royals' manager Ned Yost said. "He's got his opportunity. For that, I'm excited. I'm glad to see kids put forth the effort to be the best player they can and finally get an opportunity on the big-league level. It's got to be one of the biggest thrills of his life. You finally get to see a little reward for all the hard work you've done."
Falu was hitting .306 through 21 games with the Omaha Storm Chasers in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League when his contract was selected by the Royals.
He hit .301 for Omaha last season and was a non-roster invitee to spring training this year but began the season back with the Storm Chasers for the fourth straight year.
After two years at Indian Hills, Falu was chosen by Kansas City in the 21st round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft. He has worked his way up through the Royals' minor league system.
The native of Puerto Rico played second, shortstop, third and right field this season for Omaha. Yost said, "He's a really, really good utility player. You can play him at a lot of different spots."
Falu turns 29 next month. He returned to Centerville as the featured spearker for the 2011 baseball banquet.
Falu's appearance in Sunday's game makes it 39 years in a row in which at least one former Indian Hills player has played in a major league game.
The switch-hitting Falu was called up to the Royals at the start of their weekend series with the New York Yankees. And after waiting patiently, or most likely impatiently, for three games, he got the start at shortstop in Sunday's series finale.
In his first big-league at bat, Falu, wearing number 19, tripled to right field against New York starter Phil Hughes. He added a single in the 5th inning and later scored his first run.
"He's put his time in," Royals' manager Ned Yost said. "He's got his opportunity. For that, I'm excited. I'm glad to see kids put forth the effort to be the best player they can and finally get an opportunity on the big-league level. It's got to be one of the biggest thrills of his life. You finally get to see a little reward for all the hard work you've done."
Falu was hitting .306 through 21 games with the Omaha Storm Chasers in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League when his contract was selected by the Royals.
He hit .301 for Omaha last season and was a non-roster invitee to spring training this year but began the season back with the Storm Chasers for the fourth straight year.
After two years at Indian Hills, Falu was chosen by Kansas City in the 21st round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft. He has worked his way up through the Royals' minor league system.
The native of Puerto Rico played second, shortstop, third and right field this season for Omaha. Yost said, "He's a really, really good utility player. You can play him at a lot of different spots."
Falu turns 29 next month. He returned to Centerville as the featured spearker for the 2011 baseball banquet.
Falu's appearance in Sunday's game makes it 39 years in a row in which at least one former Indian Hills player has played in a major league game.
Two Sunday Wins Allow IHCC to Split
Centerville, IA -- The Indian Hills Falcons hope they started another long winning streak when they swept both games of a Sunday doubleheader with visiting Southwestern CC. After having a 10-game winning streak snapped in a doubleheader loss to the Spartans on Saturday, the Falcons bounced back to win 7-3 and 7-1 at Pat Daugherty Field.
The games close out of the conference portion of the schedule for IHCC with the Falcons finishing 20-12 in the league. They are 33-22 overall.
Indian Hills got solid pitching from six different pitchers in Sunday's games, the hurlers giving up only nine hits and four runs for the day. The pitching wasn't that bad on Saturday either, but IHCC came out on the short end of two one-run games, losing 3-2 and 6-5.
Sam Ross started the first game Sunday and went 5 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and a pair of runs, both earned. Kyle Maldonado got the final out in the 6th and A.J. McElderry retired all three hitters he faced in the 7th.
The Falcons used four straight singles to score two runs in the 2nd. They added an RBI single by Guillermo Cruz in the 3rd, a two-run double by Yuliecer Arias in the 4th, and a two-run double by Taylor Ostrich in the 6th.
In the nightcap, Jeremy Delgado had a leadoff triple in the 1st and scored on a fielder's choice grounder. IHCC plated four runs in the 4th with Delgado and Ostrich both driving in runs in the inning. The final two runs came in the 5th when Kevin Arroyo and Zach Sims each singled home a run.
Darwin Miranda picked up his first win of the season. He went the first five innings and gave up only two hits and one run, with a walk and five strikeouts. Jake Stalzer and Cashtyn DeLeeuw each pitched a scoreless inning in relief.
Jordan Piche pitched wel enough to win in the first game Saturday. He permitted six hits and three runs, two earned, in going the distance. Piche fanned eight and walked one.
Indian Hills had a 2-1 lead, but Southwestern scored single runs in the 5th and 6th to win it.
With the game tied 2-2 in the 5th, IHCC had the bases loaded with one out, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning. Then, trailing 3-2 in the 6th, the Falcons got a walk to Sims and a double by Darryl Velez, but stranded the runners again.
Missed opportunities were the story in the second game too. The Falcons scored twice but left the bases loaded in the 2nd, and left runners at 1st and 3rd in the 5th. Arias hit his first homer of the season in the 6th to tie the score at 6-all, but IHCC reliever McElderry allowed only his 3rd run all season in the 7th as Southwestern scored the game-winner. The Falcons went quietly with three flyouts in the bottom of the 7th.
Adam Deneke pitched well in relief for Indian Hills, giving up two hits and an unearned run in four innings. He fanned five with no walks.
Raul Centeno was the only Falcon with two hits, one of them a two-run double.
After the weekend's contests, Indian Hills knows it will face Marshalltown CC in the first round in this weekend's Region 11 tournament. IHCC is the 2nd seed and will face the third-seeded Tigers at 2:00 on Friday afternoon at Pat Daugherty Field.
The games close out of the conference portion of the schedule for IHCC with the Falcons finishing 20-12 in the league. They are 33-22 overall.
Indian Hills got solid pitching from six different pitchers in Sunday's games, the hurlers giving up only nine hits and four runs for the day. The pitching wasn't that bad on Saturday either, but IHCC came out on the short end of two one-run games, losing 3-2 and 6-5.
Sam Ross started the first game Sunday and went 5 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and a pair of runs, both earned. Kyle Maldonado got the final out in the 6th and A.J. McElderry retired all three hitters he faced in the 7th.
The Falcons used four straight singles to score two runs in the 2nd. They added an RBI single by Guillermo Cruz in the 3rd, a two-run double by Yuliecer Arias in the 4th, and a two-run double by Taylor Ostrich in the 6th.
In the nightcap, Jeremy Delgado had a leadoff triple in the 1st and scored on a fielder's choice grounder. IHCC plated four runs in the 4th with Delgado and Ostrich both driving in runs in the inning. The final two runs came in the 5th when Kevin Arroyo and Zach Sims each singled home a run.
Darwin Miranda picked up his first win of the season. He went the first five innings and gave up only two hits and one run, with a walk and five strikeouts. Jake Stalzer and Cashtyn DeLeeuw each pitched a scoreless inning in relief.
Jordan Piche pitched wel enough to win in the first game Saturday. He permitted six hits and three runs, two earned, in going the distance. Piche fanned eight and walked one.
Indian Hills had a 2-1 lead, but Southwestern scored single runs in the 5th and 6th to win it.
With the game tied 2-2 in the 5th, IHCC had the bases loaded with one out, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning. Then, trailing 3-2 in the 6th, the Falcons got a walk to Sims and a double by Darryl Velez, but stranded the runners again.
Missed opportunities were the story in the second game too. The Falcons scored twice but left the bases loaded in the 2nd, and left runners at 1st and 3rd in the 5th. Arias hit his first homer of the season in the 6th to tie the score at 6-all, but IHCC reliever McElderry allowed only his 3rd run all season in the 7th as Southwestern scored the game-winner. The Falcons went quietly with three flyouts in the bottom of the 7th.
Adam Deneke pitched well in relief for Indian Hills, giving up two hits and an unearned run in four innings. He fanned five with no walks.
Raul Centeno was the only Falcon with two hits, one of them a two-run double.
After the weekend's contests, Indian Hills knows it will face Marshalltown CC in the first round in this weekend's Region 11 tournament. IHCC is the 2nd seed and will face the third-seeded Tigers at 2:00 on Friday afternoon at Pat Daugherty Field.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Stalzer and Grassley Take League Honors
Centerville -- Indian Hills freshman pitcher Jake Stalzer and sophomore catcher Levi Grassley have been honored by the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference as the league's Division I Athlete of the Week and Scholar-Athlete of the Week, respectively. The two Falcons won the awards for the week of Apr. 30.
Stalzer was selected for his performance against Muscatine CC, a game in which he pitched six innings and gave up only four hits and two runs while striking out eight without a walk.
Grassley was honored for a week in which he had four hits in three games. He reached base safely in 11 of his 12 at bats in those games. Of his four hits, two were doubles and one was a homer. Grassley has a 4.0 grade point average.
Stalzer was selected for his performance against Muscatine CC, a game in which he pitched six innings and gave up only four hits and two runs while striking out eight without a walk.
Grassley was honored for a week in which he had four hits in three games. He reached base safely in 11 of his 12 at bats in those games. Of his four hits, two were doubles and one was a homer. Grassley has a 4.0 grade point average.
Pitching Fuels IHCC Sweep at Muscatine
Muscatine, IA -- Four Indian Hills pitchers combined to allow only five hits in a pair of shutout victories against conference opponent Muscatine CC on Thursday, the Falcons winning 4-0 and 7-0. The wins push IHCC's winning streak to ten games, all but one of those wins against league foes.
Cashtyn DeLeeuw and Jordan Piche teamed on the mound for Indian Hills in game one, permitting only two hits. DeLeeuw struck out four and walked four in going the first five innings. Piche allowed a hit and fanned three.
Indian Hills scored their first run on an RBI single by Jason Bonilla in the 4th inning and added three runs in the 6th, the big hit in the inning a two-run double by Adam Deneke. Deneke, Bonilla and Yuliecer Arias had two hits for the Falcons.
The second game saw Jake Stalzer and A.J. McElderry limit MCC to three hits. Stalzer allowed two safeties and struck out eight in five innings; McElderry had three Ks in two innings of one-hit relief.
Deneke hit a two-run homer in the 4th, a tape-measure shot to center field. He also scored a run after being hit by a pitch in a three-run 6th that put the game away. Arias and Kevin Arroyo each had three hits and Arias drove in two with a bases-loaded single in the 6th.
IHCC is 31-20 and will host Southwestern CC in a four-game series this weekend.
Cashtyn DeLeeuw and Jordan Piche teamed on the mound for Indian Hills in game one, permitting only two hits. DeLeeuw struck out four and walked four in going the first five innings. Piche allowed a hit and fanned three.
Indian Hills scored their first run on an RBI single by Jason Bonilla in the 4th inning and added three runs in the 6th, the big hit in the inning a two-run double by Adam Deneke. Deneke, Bonilla and Yuliecer Arias had two hits for the Falcons.
The second game saw Jake Stalzer and A.J. McElderry limit MCC to three hits. Stalzer allowed two safeties and struck out eight in five innings; McElderry had three Ks in two innings of one-hit relief.
Deneke hit a two-run homer in the 4th, a tape-measure shot to center field. He also scored a run after being hit by a pitch in a three-run 6th that put the game away. Arias and Kevin Arroyo each had three hits and Arias drove in two with a bases-loaded single in the 6th.
IHCC is 31-20 and will host Southwestern CC in a four-game series this weekend.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Centerville Campus Prepares for Parents Weekend
CENTERVILLE --- Parents Weekend on the Indian Hills Community College Centerville campus this weekend will have baseball, brats and Bob Traxler.
The Indian Hills Falcons baseball team will take on conference foe Southwestern CC in doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday, starting at 1:00 both days.
On Saturday, a baseball-style cookout will be held with free brats, hotdogs and chips served from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The cookout is sponsored by the IHCC Student Senate.
Saturday has been designated Bob Traxler Appreciation Day. Traxler, the longtime supporter of the college and its baseball program, will be honored during that day’s twinbill.
Also on Saturday, the IHCC Campus Store staff will be at Pat Daugherty Field from 2 to3:30 providing fans the chance to purchase Falcons’ apparel and novelties.
In case of rain on Saturday, the events will be moved to Sunday.
The Indian Hills Falcons baseball team will take on conference foe Southwestern CC in doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday, starting at 1:00 both days.
On Saturday, a baseball-style cookout will be held with free brats, hotdogs and chips served from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The cookout is sponsored by the IHCC Student Senate.
Saturday has been designated Bob Traxler Appreciation Day. Traxler, the longtime supporter of the college and its baseball program, will be honored during that day’s twinbill.
Also on Saturday, the IHCC Campus Store staff will be at Pat Daugherty Field from 2 to3:30 providing fans the chance to purchase Falcons’ apparel and novelties.
In case of rain on Saturday, the events will be moved to Sunday.
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