Senior catcher Max Watson has helped the Ankeny baseball team to a 16-15 record. The Hawks have won their last four games and are 10th in Class 4A in the latest rankings by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association.
Watson went 3-for-4 with a double and four RBIs to lead the Hawks to a 5-1 victory on Thursday at then-No. 4 Southeast Polk. He then went 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs and was named his team’s MVP after Ankeny defeated Sioux City East, 3-1, in the Brent Prange Classic on Saturday.
Watson leads the Hawks with a .400 batting average and 23 RBIs. On defense, he has thrown out 12 runners attempting to steal.
Here is some inside info on Watson:
How do you think the season is going thus far?
We have had some ups and downs, but our team has great chemistry and when we play our best and work together, we are a very tough team to beat.
What has been the highlight for you?
A highlight this season is getting to play with some very good, younger players that I have not been able to play with before. We have really connected as a team, and we are having a lot of fun together.
You mentioned that your team has had some ups and downs. Do you think the inconsistency can be attributed to the squad’s lack of experience at some positions coming into the season?
We do have a lot of young players who have not played at the varsity level before, but they have done a great job stepping into their role on our team. We are thankful for them.
On June 8, your team suffered a 21-6 loss at Urbandale as the J-Hawks’ Sam Harris went 5-for-5 with two home runs and eight RBIs. He has since left the team to go to Duke to begin his college career. Is he the best opposing hitter you’ve seen this season?
Yes, Sam is a great player and definitely one of the best as we have played against many competitive players this season.
You have started every game thus far, which can’t be easy for a catcher, especially during some of these doubleheaders on hot days. How is your body holding up?
My body is holding up great–I’m very blessed to be young. However, I’m not sure I will be able to walk when I’m older. But I wouldn’t want to be anywhere except behind the plate every game.
Your team will play at Ankeny Centennial on Wednesday. This will be your last Jag vs. Hawk matchup, unless you would happen to meet in the postseason. Would you like to be placed in the same substate bracket with the top-ranked Jaguars?
We cannot control who we play in the postseason, but I know we can hold our own against any team.
The substate brackets are expected to be announced this week. Do you think your team can make some noise in the postseason?
Absolutely! We have struggled at times, but when we play at the top of our game we can beat anyone.
Your team swept all three meetings against Southeast Polk and has also defeated some other ranked opponents, including Pleasant Valley, Dowling Catholic and Johnston. What was the key to those wins, and do they give you confidence that your team can beat anyone on any given day?
I know we can beat any given team on any day. The key to those wins were making routine plays, having quality at-bats, working together and most of all having fun.
Your brother, Mo, is a junior catcher on the Northwestern College baseball team. Have you had a chance to watch him much during his college career, and is he enjoying his experience up there?
I haven’t gotten to watch my brother as much as I would like, but he is enjoying his time at Northwestern very much. He has always been such a role model to me.
You are headed to Ellsworth Community College next year along with Ankeny teammates Brock Adamson and Carson Agan. What do you think will be the biggest challenge for you in order to play at the next level?
Playing at the next level can be a challenge, especially starting over with new teammates. But I know many of the players already and am looking forward to the challenges ahead of me.
What are you planning to study in college?
Business Administration.