Cassie Johnson and Abby Rusher got a rare night off Tuesday for the Ankeny softball team.
The two junior standouts were relegated to bench duty as Ankeny coach Dave Bingham started an all-senior lineup on Senior Night as the third-ranked Hawkettes rolled to a 10-1 victory over visiting Pella Christian in a non-conference game.
“We were able to start and play all 10 seniors from start to finish,” Bingham said.
Ankeny took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. After Pella Christian’s Claire Westerkamp hit a solo homer in the top of the second, the Hawkettes answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame, two in the third and three more in the sixth.
Kendra Winfrey (8-0) tossed a four-hitter while recording seven strikeouts to remain unbeaten on the season. Her ERA remained at 1.00.
Kendra Lewis went 2-for-3 with a double in the win. She scored three runs and drove in another.
Alysa Lowe also doubled and knocked in a run. Rylee Riesberg went 1-for-1 with two walks and had an RBI.
Winfrey, Reagan Enright, Kennedy Palmer and Praze Buchan each drove in a run. Palmer stole three bases and scored a pair of runs.
Leadoff hitter Larissa Miller also scored twice for the Hawkettes (25-6), who extended their winning streak to five games. Emma McClain and Katie Kirschman were the other seniors who started.
“The 2023 class is a special group,” Bingham said. “It’s a privilege to work with these young people. We are thankful for their parents.”
The loss dropped Pella Christian’s record to 10-25.
Ankeny will host a CIML Conference doubleheader against Urbandale (14-22) on Thursday.
