The Ankeny Centennial softball team didn’t just capture its first state title.
The top-ranked Jaguars dominated the Class 5A tournament.
Centennial erupted for six runs in the first inning and went on to beat No. 6 Pleasant Valley, 11-0, in five innings in the championship game on Thursday at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge. The Jaguars (36-5) outscored their opponents by a 29-2 margin in the tournament.
Jordyn Kennedy hit an RBI double for the game’s first run and then hit a two-run homer in the second inning, her second of the tournament. She was named the captain of the all-tournament team.
Kennedy was joined on the squad by teammates Lauren Gustofson, Mackenzie James and Mady Ott. Gustofson (13-2) allowed just three hits over the first four innings and also had a two-run single as part of the Jaguars’ outburst in the bottom of the first.
James went 7-for-12 in the tournament. Ott went 5-for-7, scored five runs and drove in six more.
Mariah Belzer went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and a double in Thursday’s game. The senior shortstop also caught a line drive off the bat of Ashley Hansen for the game’s final out.
Check back on Friday for more coverage of the championship game.
