‘Our bats have been good lately’: James, Jaguars romp to 10-0 win at Dowling

Ankeny Centennial’s Mackenzie James races to first base after hitting a double during the third inning of Tuesday’s game at Dowling Catholic. She went 2-for-3 and drove in three runs as the Jaguars posted a 10-0 victory in five innings. (Photo by Dan Holm)

Senior outfielder Mackenzie James has played on some outstanding softball teams at Ankeny Centennial, including one that placed third in the Class 5A state tournament in 2020 and another that earned runner-up honors the following season.

This year’s team might be as talented as either of those squads.

James went 2-for-3 and drove in three runs to lead the sixth-ranked Jaguars to a 10-0 victory at Dowling Catholic in five innings in the first game of a CIML Conference doubleheader on Tuesday. The second game was postponed due to rain and will be played on Thursday.

“We’ve put a lot of runs up this season already, and I’m excited to see what the rest of the season holds for us,” said James, who is batting .381 with eight RBIs in six games. “I feel like each year I’ve played on varsity at Centennial we’ve had really good lineups and players who can hit the ball, but I think the difference right now is that we’ve been working a lot on our hitting at practices and making adjustments at the plate.”

Centennial improved to 3-0 in the conference and 5-1 overall, while the Maroons’ records dropped to 0-3 and 3-4. The Jaguars are now averaging eight runs per game.

**Ankeny Centennial second baseman Cora Boyle fields a grounder as Dowling Catholic runner Emily Shimerdia heads toward second base during Tuesday’s game. (Photo by Dan Holm)**

Centennial took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. The Jaguars then broke the game open with a six-run outburst in the third, capped off by James’ two-run double.

“Our bats have been good lately, and I hope to see that continue!” James said.

Mariah Belzer went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs in the win. Addi Starr also went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs.

Sydney Morris went 2-for-3 and scored a run. Cora Boyle doubled and knocked in a pair of runs.

Payton Drefke went 1-for-4 and scored a run in her season debut for the Jaguars after completing her golf season. Jordyn Kennedy added an RBI, her team-leading ninth of the year.

**Ankeny Centennial’s Lauren Sandholm throws a pitch during Tuesday’s game. The eighth grader tossed a three-hitter and had three strikeouts in the Jaguars’ win. (Photo by Dan Holm)**

Centennial pounded out 11 hits in support of winning pitcher Lauren Sandholm. The eighth grader tossed a three-hitter and had three strikeouts while raising her mark to 2-0.

Sandholm has yet to allow a run in 13 innings across three appearances.

“Lauren is a very good pitcher for her age,” James said. “Seeing her do so well in the games she has pitched is super fun to watch knowing that she’s only an eighth grader. We have lots of pitchers who can get the job done, and Lauren being one of them–as an eighth grader–is awesome.”