Perhaps Dick Rasmussen was smiling from above at the end of Friday’s doubleheader that was played on the softball field named after him.
Sixth-ranked Ankeny got a pair of walk-off hits from Cassie Johnson to beat No. 3 Southeast Polk, 6-5 and 8-7, in a CIML Conference twinbill. Both game-winning hits came in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Johnson was the hero of the night, but Ankeny coach Dave Bingham gave credit to his entire team.
“It felt like a special place,” he said. “Our culture comes first, and tonight we really had to show a lot of grit. Every kid in our dugout contributed, so that was cool.”
Bingham often talks about protecting the legacy of the Ankeny program. He adored Rasmussen, a Hall of Fame coach who guided the Hawkettes to 12 state championships–including a record four in a row beginning with the 1977 fall season.
Rasmussen, who died about a year ago at the age of 85, coached a number of all-time greats like Connie Yori, Karlin Hayes and Jenny Voss.
Now, Johnson is rapidly building a legacy of her own.
The junior catcher and outfielder hit a two-run double to win Friday’s opener. Then, she somehow managed to top herself with a pair of home runs in the nightcap, including a leadoff blast to right-center field to end the game.
Johnson is now batting .559 with six homers and 19 RBIs. Kylee Hill of Burlington and Pearson Hall of West Liberty are the only players in the state with more home runs; they both have seven.
“Cassie is a great hitter,” Bingham said. “She can hit the ball to all fields, and that makes it tough to get her out.”
The Hawkettes won the second game after Southeast Polk rallied for five runs in the seventh inning to erase a 7-2 deficit. Sydney Potter and Kendall Woods each had a home run for the Rams.
Abby Rusher, the fourth Ankeny pitcher, got the final five outs to earn the win. She improved her mark to 6-1.
Bingham praised the effort of senior Praze Buchan, who allowed two earned runs on three hits in 3 2/3 innings while recording three strikeouts.
“Praze has waited for her turn, and she was phenomenal,” Bingham said. “We had to use every pitcher tonight. It was a great moment for her.”
Reagan Enright doubled and had two RBIs in the win. Kendra Winfrey went 2-for-3 and drove in a run, while Rylee Riesberg went 2-for-4 and had one RBI.
In the first game, Winfrey (3-0) earned the victory in relief of Rusher. She allowed two earned runs on four hits while racking up six strikeouts over the final 5 2/3 innings.
Addison Brunner had a home run for the Rams, who took a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth before Ankeny rallied. Alysa Lowe beat the throw to the plate for the winning run on Johnson’s double.
Riesberg drove in two runs for the Hawkettes. Kendra Lewis went 2-for-3, and Winfrey went 2-for-4.
The sweep improved Ankeny to 5-1 in the league and 9-2 overall. Southeast Polk’s records dropped to 3-2 and 6-3.
The Hawkettes will host a non-conference game on Tuesday against Carlisle (8-1), the No. 6 team in Class 4A.
