A three-run first inning lifted the top-ranked Johnston baseball team to a 4-2 victory over visiting Ankeny on Friday, allowing the Dragons to improve to 9-0 on the season.
The non-conference game was a rematch of last year’s Class 4A semifinal, which was won by Johnston, 5-0.
The Hawks (2-3) were held to five hits by a trio of Johnston pitchers. Carter Woollums earned the win, recording five strikeouts over the first 5 1/3 innings.
“Their kid threw well,” Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz said of Woollums. “He located a couple pitches for strikes.”
Ankeny’s Jamison Patton went 2-for-3 with a pair of extra-base hits. He doubled and then later hit a solo home run.
Thomas DeBrower went 2-for-4 and scored a run. Jack Clevidence went 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Easton Dunwoody (0-2) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings. He walked none and had eight strikeouts.
“He pitched really well,” Balvanz said. “He certainly didn’t deserve to take the loss. The longer he went, the better his tempo got.”
Miles Risley and Jack Emanuel each had two hits for Johnston, including a double. Spencer Campidilli also doubled and drove in a run.
The Dragons took advantage of two Ankeny errors.
“We had a routine double play ball that we tossed into left field, and then in the next inning we let an infield popup hit the turf because we asked our catcher to catch a ball that he shouldn’t have to catch,” Balvanz said. “It’s just inexperience, but we’ll keep working hard. I think we’re getting closer to becoming the team that I think we are.”
The Hawks will host a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader against Mason City (4-2) on Tuesday.
