Experienced Coe among contenders in American Rivers Conference baseball tournament field

CEDAR RAPIDS – Coe has served as the favorite and the underdog.

The Kohawks have managed postseason success in both roles. Those past encounters could be a benefit for them this weekend.

Coe is the No. 2 seed and will attempt to win its second straight title and third of the last four American Rivers Conference college baseball tournament, beginning Thursday. The Kohawks will face the winner of No. 3 Luther and No. 6 Nebraska Wesleyan at Memorial Stadium scheduled for 5 p.m.

“The knowledge and experiences they have, or what I call ‘short-run winning,’ they’ve done that in a number of ways,” Cook said. “They’ve been on both sides of it. The education of how quick it happens and how important the moments are that are about to happen, they’ve lived those on both sides.

“Honestly, it makes them very comfortable to be in this space as we prepare to get ready to play.”

Cook said it sounded cliché but he considered the conference tournament is wide open. Teams enter the postseason with varied levels of momentum. Regular-season champion Buena Vista is the top seed, finishing one game in front of the Kohawks. Luther, No. 4 Wartburg, No. 5 Simpson and NWU were only separated by three total games.

“The depth of the starting pitching, especially this year in our conference, has been really good,” Cook said. “More than likely, there’s a good chance that will show up in this tournament for different teams.

“I think it’s going to be a battle throughout. I don’t think seeding is going to play out, like on paper.”

Pitching has been strong throughout the A-R-C this season. The trait has been especially true for Coe (27-11, 17-7 A-R-C). The Kohawks led the conference with a 3.67 team earned-run average, hits allowed (287) and second with a .240 opponents’ batting average.

Seniors Ethan O’Donnell and Caden Richards, junior Nolan Schroeder and Jack Walsh, who pitched in last year’s postseason as a freshman, have led the way on the mound.

“In general, our pitching staff has been our identity all year,” Cook said. “It was exceptional in the first half of the year and remained pretty darn good throughout.”

“Our leadership needs to start, and will continue, on the mound. If we pitch and play defense the way we’re capable, I think this group knows they have a chance in any game we’ll be playing this weekend.”

Coe faced BVU closed the regular season with a three-game series. The Beavers (29-10, 18-6) earned a sweep to erase a two-game deficit. The performance had equal parts of good, bad and indifferent. The Kohawks didn’t achieve their goal of a regular-season crown but they have sharpened focus and a rekindled fire in their belly.

“We’ve seen that out of them this week at practice as we’ve been preparing,” Cook said. “They’ve really used this to fuel their focus for the task at hand and that’s to win the tournament to get a bid to the NCAA playoffs.”

Coe’s lineup is littered with veterans, who were part championship squads seeded No. 1 last year and No. 5 in 2022. The Kohawks earned automatic berths to the NCAA Division III tournament both seasons. They have calmness and confidence, regardless of the road to reach this point.

“We’re in a good place,” Cook said. “We know if we play good baseball, or whoever okays good baseball at the critical moments, has a chance to win it. They know it and know it all too well.

“I think this group will be ready.”

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com