It didn’t take long for the Ankeny Centennial baseball team to bounce back from its first loss of the season.
The top-ranked Jaguars earned a pair of non-conference victories on Saturday at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids. They rolled to a 16-2 win over Davenport Central in five innings, then followed with a 7-5 triumph over No. 4 Cedar Rapids Kennedy to improve to 15-1 on the season.
“Those two wins were a huge confident boost for me and our team,” said Centennial’s Nick Severson, whose squad rebounded from a 5-1 loss to No. 5 Southeast Polk on Thursday. “We struggled against Ankeny (on Wednesday) and Southeast Polk, and we all just felt off those few days and our team showed up Friday to practice with a different type of attitude. We went into Saturday feeling like us again, and we proved to the state we are still the No. 1 team.
“Our team is back on track, and we have a big week ahead!” he added.
Severson, a senior catcher, doubled and drove in two runs during the Jaguars’ seven-run third inning against Cedar Rapids Kennedy. The Cougars (18-6) later used a three-run fifth to pull within 7-5 before Centennial reliever Preston Glatt closed the door on the comeback.
Glatt allowed just two hits over the final 2 2/3 innings. Kyle Miller (1-0) earned the win in his first start of the season, allowing five earned runs on five hits over the first 4 1/3 innings.
“Kennedy hits the ball well, and that was a very good win for our team,” Severson said. “Everyone played well, and we just fed off of each other’s energy.”
Joey Oakie, Lucas Bruhl and Cole Grider each knocked in a run for the Jaguars. Iowa recruit Rowan Donels (4-2) took the loss, giving up four earned runs on just one hit over the first 5 2/3 innings while racking up seven strikeouts.
Kennedy’s Nolan Grawe homered and had two RBIs.
Centennial scored six runs in both the second and fourth innings in the win over Davenport Central (8-13). The Jaguars pounded out 16 hits off four pitchers, 10 of them off Tyler Ryan.
Severson went 3-for-3 with a double and scored three runs for the Jaguars. He got a rare start as the designated hitter.
“The coaches like to give me a game off on weekends to give me a little break by letting me DH,” said Severson, who is now batting .491. “I’ve never complained about it.”
Junior catcher Leyton Kolln started for just the second time this season. He went 3-for-4 with a double, two triples and three RBIs.
“Leyton puts in the work to be able to see the field, and they will be in great hands next year with him back there,” Severson said.
Damin Churchman went 3-for-4 with a home run and six RBIs, while Emerson Alberhasky also homered and drove in three runs. It was the first homer of the season for both players.
Sean Stewart went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Bruhl went 2-for-3 with a double and scored two runs.
Will Morris (2-0) was the winning pitcher. He allowed two earned runs on one hit and had three strikeouts over the first four innings before Carter Bland got the final three outs.
Centennial will host a CIML Conference doubleheader against Waukee Northwest (10-11) on Monday.
