With five straight wins in CIML Iowa Conference play, the Ankeny Centennial baseball team has surged into contention for the league title.
The Jaguars followed up Monday’s sweep over Ames by sweeping another doubleheader on Wednesday against visiting Mason City. The games were moved from Mason City to Centennial due to a wet field after heavy rains.
The Jaguars posted a 9-0 victory in the opener, then won the second game, 10-0, in five innings. They improved to 8-4 in the conference and 11-9 overall, while Mason City’s records dropped to 4-8 and 9-12.
“Our guys played really well against a good opponent,” said Centennial coach Mark Hey. “That was nice to see.”
Centennial lowered its team ERA to 3.36 with the back-to-back shutouts. Lincoln Lacey (3-0) tossed a three-hitter and had four strikeouts in the first game, then Easton Miller (2-0) and Ian McGhiey combined on a three-hitter in the nightcap.
“When you have these weeks where you play seven games, you get a chance to see a lot of kids,” Hey said. “So far this week everyone has stepped up and pitched really well.”
Lacey took a no-hitter into the fifth inning before the River Hawks loaded the bases with two outs. But he got out of the jam and cruised the rest of the way.
“His stuff was working great, and he was keeping them off-balance,” Hey said of Lacey. “He was making them hit his pitch, so he was in command the entire game.”
The Jaguars took a 3-0 lead in the first inning, then added six more runs in the second. Cole Grider went 2-for-4, scored two runs and drove in two more.
Centennial finished with eight hits, including a double by Lacey. Easton and Kyle Miller, Nick Severson, Sean Stewart and Damin Churchman each had one RBI.
After their fast start, the Jaguars were held scoreless for the last four innings and didn’t score again until the third inning of the second game.
“You’ve got to be consistent in your approach at the plate,” Hey said. “There were maybe a few times when we got away from the things that we were trying to do that have been successful, and we don’t want to get into any bad habits. But I was really proud of our guys. They shut us down for those six innings and then we scored five runs in the third and five in the fourth. We made those adjustments and went back to the things that we do really well.”
Churchman went 3-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs in the nightcap. Easton Miller and Joey Oakie each went 2-for-3 with a double.
Oakie, Severson and Stewart each drove in two runs. Lacey added one RBI.
Easton Miller allowed two hits and four walks over the first four innings while striking out two. McGhiey then got the final three outs.
“Ian came in and gave up an infield hit, but he got two strikeouts and then we threw a kid out stealing to end the game,” Hey said.
The Jaguars will host another Iowa Conference doubleheader on Thursday against Marshalltown (3-19), which has lost 11 straight games. They swept a twinbill against the Bobcats, 16-0 and 15-0, on May 23.
Another sweep would pull Centennial into at least a tie for second place in the league. The two teams ahead of the Jaguars, No. 7 Waukee Northwest (11-3) and No. 10 Ankeny (9-3), play a doubleheader against each other on Thursday.
