In a rematch of last year’s Class 5A regional final, the top-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team rolled to a sweep at No. 5 Linn-Mar (Marion) in a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday.
The Jaguars posted a 7-0 victory in the opener, then completed the sweep with a 10-0 win in six innings. They avenged last year’s 9-4 loss to the Lions.
“Going to Linn-Mar we knew it would be an important game as they did knock us out last year, but we treated it as any other game day, which seems to work well for us!” said Centennial senior Lauren Gustofson.
Gustofson (4-0) tossed a four-hitter in the first game. She walked one and had 10 strikeouts.
“I was really excited (to get the start), but also a little nervous as I knew they would have some pretty good hitters,” Gustofson said. “But we went in throwing many rise balls and outside pitches, which got the job done.”
Gustofson also homered and drove in two runs. It was her second home run of the season.
Jordyn Kennedy went 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs. Mackenzie James went 3-for-4 with a double and scored a pair of runs.
Addi Starr went 3-for-4 and knocked in a run. Mady Ott also had an RBI.
In the nightcap, Centennial used two five-run outbursts to win the game in six innings. Kennedy went 3-for-4 with a double, a homer and four RBIs as the Jaguars extended their winning streak to 11 games.
It was Kennedy’s seventh homer, which is tied for seventh in the entire state. As a team, the Jaguars rank third with 21 home runs behind Southeast Polk (24) and Pleasant Valley (23).
“I’m not surprised at all by how many home runs we have had,” Gustofson said. “We have all come so far, and I have so much confidence in my team both offensively and defensively!”
Sydney Morris went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. James went 2-for-4 and scored twice, while Mariah Belzer and Cora Boyle each went 2-for-3.
Lauren Sandholm (5-0) tossed a two-hitter and had three strikeouts as Centennial posted its third straight shutout and its seventh of the season. The Jaguars lowered their team ERA to 1.43.
Centennial will host a CIML Conference doubleheader against No. 3 Waukee Northwest (12-3), the defending Class 5A champion, on Monday.
