There isn’t much of a gap between the state’s top two softball teams in Class 5A.
However, top-ranked Fort Dodge still has the edge over No. 2 Ankeny Centennial.
In a rematch of last year’s Class 5A championship game, the host Dodgers swept a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader on Tuesday. They walked off with a 3-2 win in the first game, then hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning to complete the sweep with a 4-2 victory.
“Our girls came in and competed for 14 innings,” said Centennial coach Brett Delaney. “We just needed a couple breaks to go our way, and that didn’t happen. Overall, we’re happy with the way the girls are playing.”
Centennial’s Jadeyn Stahr (1-2) scattered eight hits in the opener. She was outdueled by all-state pitcher Jalen Adams, who tossed a four-hitter and had six strikeouts while becoming the school’s all-time strikeout leader.
Adams was even more dominant in last year’s title game, when she took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before finishing with a two-hitter and 13 strikeouts in the Dodgers’ 2-0 triumph.
“Stahr really stepped up,” Delaney said. “It was probably her best performance of the season. She threw seven solid innings, but we just didn’t put enough runs on the board to win the game.”
Jordyn Kennedy went 2-for-2 for the Jaguars. Addi Starr went 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI.
In the nightcap, Kennedy went 2-for-3 and drove in a run. The eighth grader is now batting .769 (10-of-13).
Centennial had five hits off Lucy Porter, including a double by Lauren Solis. Payton Drefke had one RBI.
Lauren Gustofson (2-1) tossed a four-hitter in the loss.
“We came in with the attitude of making every routine play, and we did that tonight,” Delaney said. “Our defense was solid, and we had two good pitching performances.”
Fort Dodge improved to 4-0 in the conference and 5-1 overall. The Jaguars’ records dropped to 2-2 and 3-3.
Centennial will host a non-conference game against No. 7 Valley (5-1) on Wednesday.
