The Ankeny softball team had a lot to play for on Wednesday against defending state champion Fort Dodge.
But so did the third-ranked Dodgers.
Fort Dodge won both games of a doubleheader at No. 9 Ankeny to keep its CIML Iowa Conference title hopes alive. The Dodgers posted an 8-2 victory in the opener, then completed the sweep with an 11-0 win in five innings.
“We didn’t play real well defensively, and sometimes those things can snowball,” said Ankeny coach Dave Bingham, whose team had its six-game winning streak snapped. “But we’ll clean those things up.”
Fort Dodge improved to 17-3 in the conference and 27-5 overall. The Dodgers, who have won their last eight games, will play a twinbill at No. 1 Waukee Northwest (18-2) on Thursday that will likely determine the league crown.
Ankeny, meanwhile, dropped to 13-9 and 25-10. The Hawkettes will play a doubleheader at No. 6 Ankeny Centennial (11-9) on Thursday in a battle for third place.
“It’s a big week for us,” Bingham said. “We want to play well, and it’s always fun to play the Jaguars. It’s exciting for the community.”
Ankeny took an early 1-0 lead in Wednesday’s first game before Fort Dodge answered with four runs in the second inning. The Hawkettes got a run back in the fourth, but it wasn’t enough.
The Dodgers tacked on a run in the sixth and three more in the seventh to break it open.
“It was as competitive of a game as we’ve been in all year,” Bingham said. “Those are great moments when you’re going against a great pitcher like (Jalen Adams).”
Fort Dodge’s Lydia Lara hit a two-run homer. Teammate Maggie Elsbecker went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs.
Ashtyn Billings (10-4) took the loss. She allowed four earned runs on 12 hits over the first 6 1/3 innings.
Larissa Miller went 2-for-3 and scored a run for the Hawkettes. Kendra Winfrey and Kennedy Palmer each had an RBI.
“I thought Ash pitched really well, and Larissa was really good at the plate,” Bingham said. “She’s really coming on and seeing the ball really well.”
Ankeny had six hits and struck out just three times against Adams, the Gatorade Iowa player of the year.
“I think she’s the cream of the crop,” Bingham said of Adams. “We had our chances in that game. I was proud of our competitiveness. But after that, Game 2 wasn’t as fun. It just wasn’t our night.”
In the nightcap, Fort Dodge pounded out 11 hits off three pitchers. Winfrey (10-4) took the loss, giving up two earned runs in the first 2 1/3 innings.
Lucy Porter tossed a three-hitter with five strikeouts and also went 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs. Mariah Myers went 3-for-4 and knocked in two runs.
Palmer had a double for the Hawkettes.
