Class 5A state champion Ankeny Centennial and state qualifier Ankeny both placed three softball players on the CIML Conference first team by a vote of the league’s coaches.
The Jaguars were represented by eighth grade pitcher Lauren Sandholm, freshman infielder Jordyn Kennedy and senior outfielder Mackenzie James, who was named to a utility position. Ankeny landed junior pitcher Abby Rusher, senior infielder Larissa Miller and junior outfielder Cassie Johnson on the squad.
Kennedy batted .464 with a team-high 12 home runs and 49 RBIs. The captain of the Class 5A all-tournament team, she led the Jaguars to a 36-5 record.
James batted .466 with seven homers and 41 RBIs. She scored a team-high 48 runs and tied Kennedy for the team lead in doubles with 13.
Sandholm compiled a 13-1 mark with a 1.08 ERA. She limited opposing batters to a .161 average.
Johnson led the Hawkettes to a 31-8 record and a tie for seventh place in Class 5A. She paced the team with a .505 average, 14 homers and 47 RBIs.
Rusher posted a 19-5 mark with a 1.72 ERA and 143 strikeouts. She also batted .364 with one homer and 34 RBIs.
Miller batted .404 and drove in 12 runs. She led the team with 26 walks, 48 runs scored and 39 stolen bases.
Senior pitcher Kendra Winfrey of Ankeny was named to the CIML Conference second team. She was joined on the squad by senior catcher Sydney Morris and junior outfielder Payton Drefke of Centennial.
Winfrey went 11-0 with a 1.12 ERA and 82 strikeouts. She also batted .308 with two homers and 23 RBIs.
Morris batted .401 with six homers and 47 RBIs. Drefke batted .416 with five doubles, 10 RBIs and a team-high 12 stolen bases.
Three more Jaguars were selected to the CIML Conference third team. They are senior pitcher Lauren Gustofson, senior infielder Mariah Belzer and freshman outfielder Mady Ott.
Gustofson compiled a 13-2 record with a 2.39 ERA and 117 strikeouts. She also batted .275 with two homers and 21 RBIs.
Ott batted .432 with seven homers and 42 RBIs while leading the team with two triples. Belzer batted .398 with three homers and 35 RBIs.
Senior infielder Kendra Lewis of Ankeny was also a third-team selection. She batted .396 with one homer and 23 RBIs and led the team with 13 doubles.
Several other players received all-conference honorable mention. They are seniors Reagan Enright, Kennedy Palmer and Rylee Riesberg, sophomore Aubrey Lensmeyer and freshman Avery Nelson of Ankeny; and juniors Cora Boyle and Addi Starr of Centennial.
