Luther’s Blake Peterson extends scoreless streak

CEDAR RAPIDS — Blake Peterson admits it can be easy to look ahead at times.

He also knows that can cause some trouble when on the pitchers mound and why he focuses on the task at hand.

Luther's fiery right hander remained dialed in, throwing a one-hit shutout to stay unbeaten, as the Norse swept Coe, 3-0 and 8-3, Friday at Bill Quinby Field at Daniels Park. Luther passed Coe for third in the Iowa Conference standings, resuming the four-game series Saturday, starting at 1 p.m.

Peterson (5-0) extended his scoreless inning streak to 22 innings, which dates back to April 6. He has allowed just eight hits in those four appearances, recording a no-hitter against Simpson last Saturday.

'The big thing for me is staying in the moment,' Peterson said. 'It's easy to start thinking about the end goal. I think staying in the moment, going pitch by pitch, has been what has helped me.'

Peterson was on point against the Kohawks. He stifled the Coe offense, allowing a one-out single up the middle to Kevin DeLaney in the sixth. The Kohawks never advanced a runner past second base. He has relied on his power to overtake batters.

'I get in there and throw it hard really,' Peterson said. 'I just try to blow it by guys.'

Peterson attempts to do it with a little flair as well. He has developed into an emotional leader, giving the occasional fist pump or yell. Second-year Luther Coach Bryan Nikkel said the team feeds off that when Peterson is rolling.

'I get fired up about pretty much anything,' Peterson said. 'I like to let people know I'm confident. I try not to do too much, but at times I get carried away.

'I try to have a lot of energy and get our dugout going.'

Even when Coe rallied, Peterson had an answer. leading off the fourth with a hit batsman before getting the next hitter to ground into a double play. Twice he set Coe down in order, including the final inning when he had two of his seven strikeouts.

'All around we play some good team defense,' Peterson said. 'We have a lot of young guys in the field but they are showing up and making plays day in and day out.

Peterson and the staff worked on his mechanics in the off-season and have strengthened his mental approach. Success is the product of his effort.

'Blake's earned every bit of success he's having this year,' Nikkel said. 'He really took it by the horns this past summer. This winter, he has worked his tail off. He's starting to put it all together.'

Peterson received all the offense he needed in the fourth when Czenvic Rojer led off with a home run to right field. Bryce Hingst had an RBI double in the seventh and scored on Cody Reimer's single to close the scoring.

The first game was a pitchers duel. Thomas Schaedel threw a complete game for Coe, allowing just three runs on six hits with five strikeouts. The Kohawks couldn't string together hits.

'Credit to their guy,' Nikkel said of Schaedel. 'It was a great ballgame. It was one swing away from either team winning.'

Luther used a five-run fourth to take command of the second game, helping Reimer earn his fourth win. Jake Halverson hit a two-run single in that frame. Alex Weber and Mitch Knippenberg had two hits apiece and Jon Opdahl drove in three runs to lead Luther (22-8, 11-7 IIAC).

'It was a big day,' Nikkel said. 'I thought we threw strikes and made plays defensively. We got some timely hits and ended up coming out on top.'

Coe notched a 1-0 lead in the first, getting consecutive singles from Craig Konrardy and DeLaney. Konrardy scored on a wild pitch. The Kohawks, who outhit the Norse, 12-9, managed just one run each in the eighth and ninth.

Andrew Brierton had three hits in the nightcap, while Konrardy and DeLaney had two apiece for Coe (14-12, 10-8).

Luther started Friday one game back of Coe in the conference. The Norse are now one game ahead of the Kohawks, trailing league leader Wartburg and second-place Buena Vista. Luther has eight games left in the regular season, vying for a spot in the IIAC tournament May 12-14 at Memorial Stadium.

'As fast as we move into third (Friday), we could fall to who knows where (Saturday),' Nikkel said. 'You can't take it for granted. It's one pitch at a time right now.

'Every team and game is monumental. This is a fun time of year to be playing. It looks like we're playing pretty good ball right now and it's great.'

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