Two baseball teams trying to find some consistency split a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader on Monday at Marshalltown.
Ankeny Centennial posted a 12-8 victory in the opener. The host Bobcats then answered with a 10-8 win in the nightcap.
“It was very sloppy,” said Centennial coach Mark Hey. “There were a lot of walks and a lot of errors on both sides.”
The Jaguars used a seven-run third inning to erase a 5-2 deficit in the first game.
“We hit the ball extremely well,” Hey said. “Gabriel Monosmith had some big hits, and so did Jackson Powell. I don’t know if Powell ever got out all night.”
In the nightcap, Marshalltown scored three runs in the sixth inning on just one hit to build a 10-6 lead. Centennial rallied for two runs in the seventh, but left the bases loaded to end the game.
“I’m proud of the way we’re battling right now,” Hey said. “We’re not playing extremely well and the guys would be the first to tell you that, but they’re doing what they can to try to take care of business.”
Seth Smith pitched 4 2/3 innings of relief for the Bobcats in the second game. He allowed just one hit and overcame six walks to earn the win.
“I don’t know if words can (describe his performance),” Bobcats coach Derek Wrage told the Marshalltown Times-Republican. “He’s not a guy that’s thrown a lot. I think this is his second time throwing in a varsity game. He got zero warmup pitches in the bullpen beorehand. Just an absolute competitor, couldn’t be more proud of him giving us a shot. Hats off to him.”
Brendan Bates went 2-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs as Marshalltown improved to 1-3 in the conference and 5-7 overall. The Jaguars are now 2-2 in the league and 5-7 overall.
Centennial will host an Iowa Conference doubleheader against eighth-ranked Ankeny (4-0, 7-5) on Wednesday.
