Ankeny Christian Academy’s dream season on the baseball diamond came to an end on Saturday.
But the memories of an historic campaign will not be soon forgotten.
The ninth-ranked Eagles lost to Ogden, 3-2, in eight innings in a Class 1A district final at Urbandale. They finished the best season in school history with a 26-2 record.
“That was one tough, hard-fought, well-played game from two excellent teams,” said ACA coach Craig Dueker. “I was really proud of how the boys battled throughout. We had runners on throughout the game, but give Ogden a ton of credit–they held down our running game. We knew this was going to be a battle and actually said pre-game the first team to three (runs) wins.”
Ogden’s Dylan Perdue hit a solo home run in the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie. It was the first run allowed this season by Eli Christensen, who replaced Malachi Johnson on the mound in the fourth.
The Bulldogs added an unearned run in the sixth to take a 2-0 lead, but Christensen later doubled to start a seventh-inning rally by ACA. The Eagles scored two runs to force extra innings, but left the bases loaded.
After Ogden scratched across a run in the top of the eighth, Johnson and Christensen led off the bottom of the inning with back-to-back hits to put runners at second and third with no outs.
“But we just couldn’t push that tying run across,” Dueker said.
Ogden (23-9) extended its winning streak to six games. The Bulldogs will play No. 8 CAM (26-2) in the substate final on Tuesday at Bondurant-Farrar.
The Eagles will have to replace eight seniors, including one of the state’s best players in Johnson.
“These boys had themselves an incredible season and one I believe they will remember for a long time,” Dueker said. “A 26-2 record, a second conference championship, a second district final, and our first top-10 state ranking. We praise God when we win and praise God when we lose. Unfortunately, this wasn’t our time. But we are going to be stronger as a result. Our seniors are leaving a great baseball legacy at ACA. I could not be prouder of the young men, Christian leaders and role models that they have been and will continue to be.”
ACA will return several starters next season, led by Christensen.
“We have a ton of potential with lots of returnees,” Dueker said. “Our goals won’t change next year. We still want to make that first state appearance, but it is going to take a lot of off-season work. I am looking forward to seeing the next group step in and help take the program to the next level.”