It was a storybook season for coach Brett Delaney and the Ankeny Centennial softball team.
After guiding the Jaguars to a 36-5 record and the first state title in school history, Delaney has been named the Class 5A West district coach of the year by the Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association. He also led his team to the CIML Conference crown.
Three of Delaney’s players were also named to the Class 5A West all-district team along with two standouts from Ankeny. The Jaguars were represented by senior pitcher Lauren Gustofson, freshman infielder Jordyn Kennedy and eighth grade pitcher Lauren Sandholm, while the Hawkettes placed junior pitcher Abby Rusher and junior catcher Cassie Johnson on the squad.
Kennedy batted .464 with a team-high 12 home runs and 49 RBIs. She was named the captain of the Class 5A all-tournament team after leading the Jaguars to the state title last week in Fort Dodge.
Gustofson compiled a 13-2 record with a 2.39 ERA and 117 strikeouts. She also batted .275 with two homers and 21 RBIs.
Sandholm posted a 13-1 mark with a 1.08 ERA. She limited opposing batters to a .161 average.
Johnson led Ankeny to a 31-8 record and a tie for seventh place in Class 5A. She led the Hawkettes with a .505 average, 14 homers and 47 RBIs.
Rusher compiled a 19-5 mark with a 1.72 ERA and 143 strikeouts. She also batted .364 with one homer and 34 RBIs.
