The trend continues: After suffering loss, Jaguars bounce back with run-rule win

The Ankeny Centennial players greet Mackenzie James at home plate after she hit a grand slam during the second game of Thursday’s doubleheader at Southeast Polk. The Jaguars posted a 20-4 victory in four innings to salvage a split of the twinbill after losing the opener, 9-8, in 11 innings. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

Each time the Ankeny Centennial softball team has lost a game this season, the top-ranked Jaguars have rebounded with a resounding victory in their next contest.

That trend continued on Thursday as Centennial rolled to a 20-4 victory in four innings in the second game of a doubleheader at No. 5 Southeast Polk. The Jaguars salvaged a split of the twinbill after losing the opener, 9-8, in 11 innings.

Centennial, which had already wrapped up the CIML Conference title, finished 14-2 in the league and is now 28-5 overall. The Rams (10-6, 26-9) had their five-game winning streak snapped in the nightcap.

The Jaguars have followed each of their five losses with a run-rule victory. On Thursday, they scored eight runs in the third inning and 10 more in the fourth to put up a season-high 20 runs in the second game.

**Ankeny Centennial coach Brett Delaney watches from the dugout during Thursday’s doubleheader. He was honored recently for earning his 100th career victory with the Jaguars. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)**

Mackenzie James went 4-for-4 with a homer and five RBIs to lead Centennial’s 20-hit attack. She hit a grand slam in the fourth inning for her seventh home run of the season.

Mady Ott went 3-for-3 with a double and three RBIs, while Mariah Belzer went 3-for-4 with a double and drove in three runs. Jordyn Kennedy went 3-for-3 and had an RBI.

Payton Drefke and Malin Vallejo each had two hits, stole a base and scored a pair of runs. Drefke also knocked in a run.

**Ankeny Centennial’s Payton Drefke hits the ball during the first game of Thursday’s twinbill. She went 3-for-6 and scored three runs in the Jaguars’ loss. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)**

Sydney Morris and Addi Starr each had two RBIs in the rout. Cora Boyle also drove in a run, and Addie Pollock scored three times.

Lauren Sandholm (12-1) was the winning pitcher. She allowed four earned runs on four hits and had five strikeouts.

Southeast Polk’s Sydney Potter homered twice and drove in all four of her team’s runs. She now ranks third in the entire state with 15 home runs.

The Rams ended Centennial’s five-game winning streak in the first game. Potter and Aubrey Bacon each homered and had four RBIs.

Ankeny Centennial catcher Sydney Morris tries to make a tag at home plate but can not prevent Southeast Polk’s Aubrey Bacon from scoring the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Rams a 9-8 win in the opener of Thursday’s doubleheader. Morris went 4-for-6 and had two RBIs in the Jaguars’ loss. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

Morris went 4-for-6 and had two RBIs for the Jaguars. Starr went 2-for-6 and had two RBIs, while Ott also drove in a pair of runs.

Drefke went 3-for-6 and scored three runs. Boyle and Lauren Gustofson each had a double.

Jadeyn Stahr (6-2) took the loss in relief of Gustofson. She allowed two earned runs on seven hits over the final 7 2/3 innings.

The Jaguars will play ADM (Adel) (22-9) and Dallas Center-Grimes (27-8) in the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational on Friday. Those teams are ranked 11th and fourth, respectively, in Class 4A.