‘Everybody else stepped up’: Hawkettes sweep Valley without their best hitter

Ankeny coach Dave Bingham celebrates after the Hawkettes took the lead in the second game of Monday’s doubleheader at Valley. The Hawkettes went on to post a 6-4 victory to complete a sweep of the twinbill. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

The fourth-ranked Ankeny softball team proved on Monday that it can win without its best hitter.

Junior catcher Cassie Johnson started the first game of a doubleheader at No. 2 Valley, but left after just one at-bat and did not return. She leads the squad with a .538 batting average, eight home runs and 27 RBIs.

Still, the Hawkettes went on to sweep the twinbill by scores of 7-2 and 6-4.

“Cassie didn’t feel well so we gave her a break and took her out,” said Ankeny coach Dave Bingham. “Everybody else stepped up and did a really nice job.”

In the nightcap, Ankeny rallied from a 4-1 deficit to complete the sweep and extend its winning streak to six games. The Hawkettes scored two runs in the fourth inning and three more in the sixth.

**Ankeny’s Avery Nelson hits the ball during the first game of Monday’s doubleheader. The Hawkettes went on to post a 7-2 win. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)**

Avery Nelson went 2-for-2 and drove in two runs in the victory. Kendra Lewis went 2-for-3 with a double and one RBI, while Larissa Miller went 2-for-4 and also knocked in a run.

Abby Rusher had two RBIs in Ankeny’s sixth-inning rally.

“The top of the order was big for us,” Bingham said.

Rusher also combined with Kendra Winfrey (4-0) on a seven-hitter. Rusher started and finished the game, while Winfrey tossed five scoreless innings and had three strikeouts.

**Ankeny’s Kendra Winfrey throws a pitch during Monday’s doubleheader. She earned the win in the second game by tossing five scoreless innings. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)**

“We stayed really steady in that game,” Bingham said. “We basically gave (Valley) three runs in the second inning on four or five errors, but we just kept plugging away. We showed a lot of grit tonight. I’m proud of the girls.”

In the opener, Ankeny scored two runs in the fourth inning to break a 1-1 tie. The Hawkettes then used a four-run outburst in the fifth to break the game open.

Aubrey Lensmeyer went 2-for-3 and had three RBIs.

“Aubrey had a big game,” Bingham said. “She swung it pretty well in the 5 hole.”

**Ankeny’s Kendra Lewis slides safely around a tag and into third base during the opener of Monday’s twinbill. She scored a pair of runs in the Hawkettes’ victory. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)**

Rusher went 2-for-4 with a double and drove in a run. Kennedy Palmer and Lily Hans each had an RBI as well.

Lewis went 1-for-3 and scored a pair of runs. Josie Parton stole two bases and also scored twice.

Rusher (11-2) allowed two earned runs on five hits over the first six innings. She racked up eight strikeouts before Winfrey came in to get the final three outs.

“We played really well the first game,” Bingham said. “Abby pitched really well, and then we went to Kendra in the seventh inning. We can really change the dynamic with those two pitchers.”