Heading into Tuesday's doubleheader with Luther at Daniels Park, Coe knew they needed only to win at least one of the two games to clinch the A-R-C regular season crown.
They came out right away in the opener and put up a crooked number to gain an early edge. In the second inning, Jacob Burns (Gilbert, Ariz./Campo Verde) led off with a single through the shifted infield on the right side. Two batters later, TJ Johnson (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Prairie ) singled through the left side to move Daniel Berger (Scottsdale, Ariz./Horizon), who replaced Burns at first after a fielder's choice, to second. Nolan Arp (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier) walked to load the bases then Cam Frazier drew a walk to bring in Berger. Two batters later, Kevin DeLaney (Coralville, Iowa/West) delivered a two-out, two-run single to score Johnson and Arp to give Coe a 3-0 lead.
Coe added another run in the third. Riley LeGrand (Dyersville, Iowa/Beckman Catholic) singled through the left side to lead off the frame. Jordan Kaplan (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North) was then hit by a pitch to move LeGrand to second. Two batters later, Berger hit a double to left to plate LeGrand and give Coe a 4-0 edge.
Starting pitcher Zach Kammin (Woodstock, Ill./Woodstock) held Luther scoreless through four before trouble hit him in the fifth. The Norse scored twice to cut Coe's lead in half at 4-2.
Luther scored a run in the sixth, but Coe countered with a run of their own. Arp reached on a walk with one out and later advanced to second on a passed ball. A ground out moved him to third. Later, DeLaney produced another RBI single to score Arp and put Coe ahead, 5-3.
With a runner on in the seventh, Luther's Luke Plunkett tied the game at 5 with a home run to left center.
Neither team had a threat in the eighth inning, keeping the score tied at 5 into the ninth.
Johnson came on in relief and kept Luther off the scoreboard to give Coe a chance to win with a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth. LeGrand drew a one-out walk and later stole second to get into scoring position. A Kaplan fly out to right advance LeGrand to third with two outs. With Thomas Kahle (Glenview, Ill./Northridge Prep) pinch hitting, a 1-2 pitch one-hopped the catcher and bounced away to the left side allowing LeGrand to score the conference championship-clinching run.
The win also gave Coe their 17th straight win. That streak would come to an end though in the second game as Luther defeated the Kohawks, 8-3.
Coe will be the No. 1 seed in the American Rivers Conference Baseball Tournament, May 9-11, with a majority of the tournament to be played at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids.
There is still plenty left to be played in the regular season first. Coe (29-3, 19-2 in A-R-C) begins a three-game set with Loras Friday at 3 p.m. at Daniels Park.