The way that her teammates were hitting the ball, Ankeny Centennial pitcher Lauren Gustofson didn’t have to be perfect in the Jaguars’ softball season opener on Monday.
But the senior was anyway.
Gustofson tossed a five-inning perfect game with 11 strikeouts as Centennial rolled to a 15-0 victory at Waukee in the opener of a CIML Conference doubleheader. The Jaguars then completed a sweep with a 2-0 win.
“Gus was really sharp,” said Centennial coach Brett Delaney, whose team is sixth in the first Class 5A rankings of the season. “She had all the pitches working, and (catcher) Syd(ney Morris) called a great game for her.”
Centennial held a 6-0 lead after four innings, then erupted for nine runs in the fifth to end the game via the mercy rule. The Jaguars pounded out 14 hits, including six doubles.
Jordyn Kennedy went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs. Morris went 2-for-4 with a double and drove in two runs, while Mady Ott went 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI.
Mackenzie James and Gustofson each doubled and knocked in two runs. McKenna Vallejo went 2-for-2 and scored a run in her first varsity start.
“Kennedy had a big night, but we got some big hits all the way up and down the lineup in that first game,” Delaney said. “It was a total team effort.”
In the nightcap, the game was scoreless until Centennial pushed a run across in the top of the sixth inning. The Jaguars then added an insurance run in the seventh.
Cora Boyle and Ott each scored a run. Mariah Belzer had one RBI.
Jadeyn Stahr tossed the first six innings to earn the win. She combined with eighth grader Lauren Sandholm on a six-hitter.
“The CIML is probably the toughest conference in the state of Iowa, and we came out prepared tonight,” Delaney said. “The girls have put in a lot of work in the offseason, and they played well as a team tonight.”
Centennial will host a non-conference game against ADM (Adel) (1-0) on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The Tigers opened their season on Monday with a 12-5 win over Boone.
