For the first time in 10 years, Carl Sandburg College is home to the Arrowhead Conference baseball champion. The Chargers earned a share of their first conference title since 2008 and sixth in program history with a split of a doubleheader against Black Hawk on Tuesday afternoon at the William “Bill” Hungate Baseball/Softball Complex. Sandburg won Game 1 10-4 and nearly claimed the outright title in Game 2, but the Braves withstood a game-tying three-run Chargers rally in the seventh to win 8-6 in eight innings, leaving the teams as co-champions with identical 17-3 league records. Making his first start since March 30 because of a leg injury, sophomore Mitch Smith from Sherrard High School and a transfer from Black Hawk, kept the Braves’ bats quiet for much of game one. After surrendering a leadoff double that led to the game’s first run, Smith retired 15 of the next 16 batters he faced. The righthander went the distance, allowing six hits and a walk while striking out seven. Next up for the Chargers, now (25-11) overall, they step out of conference play for their final four opponents of the regular season, starting with a nine-inning game at 3 p.m. tomorrow at home against Spoon River.
