The Ankeny Centennial softball players were unhappy with the way Wednesday’s doubleheader against visiting Valley ended.
After committing five errors and dropping a 9-3 decision in the second game for their first loss in CIML Conference play, the top-ranked Jaguars rebounded on Friday with a pair of victories over Class 3A ranked opponents at the Brent Prange Classic.
Centennial rolled to a 13-1 win over No. 5 Estherville Lincoln Central in four innings. The Jaguars then defeated No. 4 Davis County, 9-4, to raise their overall record to 24-4.
“We knew we didn’t play our best in that second game against Valley, so we were ready to come out and get two wins,” said Centennial senior Mackenzie James.
James enjoyed the best game of her high school career in the win over Davis County (18-3), racking up 11 total bases. She went 4-for-4 with a double, two home runs and five RBIs.
“That’s the first time I’ve homered twice in a varsity game and was also my first-ever grand slam, so it felt great to hit those,” James said.
James lifted her batting average to .464 on the season. The Jaguars’ leadoff hitter now has six home runs after hitting just two in the previous three seasons combined.
“This season I’ve worked on hitting a lot more outside of practices, which I think has been a big part of how well I’m hitting the ball right now,” James said. “When I go up to bat I try not to think too much, which has made me feel more relaxed at the plate this season. Before I step up to the plate, I think to myself ‘Hard line drives and hard on the ground’, which helps my swing stay more level rather than popping balls up. I also think right-center half of the field to get me to wait on the ball and drive it up the middle.”
Mariah Belzer had a two-run triple in the win, while Jordyn Kennedy added a two-run double. Payton Drefke went 2-for-4 and scored a run.
Jadeyn Stahr (6-1) was the winning pitcher. She allowed no earned runs on three hits over the first four innings.
Lauren Sandholm (9-1) tossed three hitless innings and had eight strikeouts in the victory over Estherville Lincoln Central (24-2). She lowered her ERA to 0.84.
Belzer went 2-for-2 and had four RBIs in the win. She hit a three-run double in the first inning to ignite the rout.
Sydney Morris also went 2-for-2 with a double. She drove in three runs.
Mary Brantley hit a two-run homer for her first varsity hit. Addi Starr went 2-for-3 and scored a run, Drefke had a double, and James knocked in two runs.
Centennial will play a doubleheader at No. 10 Johnston (17-10) on Monday. The Jaguars need just one win, or a loss by No. 3 Ankeny at No. 2 Waukee Northwest, to clinch a share of the CIML Conference title.
Centennial won an earlier meeting, 12-5, at the Johnston Classic on May 26.
