Six Jaguars, four Hawkettes earn all-state honors from Girls’ Coaches Association

Ankeny Centennial freshmen Jordyn Kennedy and Mady Ott, shown here after they both homered during the Jaguars’ win over Southeast Polk in the Class 5A semifinals on July 19 at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge, have received all-state honors from the Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association. Kennedy was named to the Class 5A first team along with teammate Lauren Gustofson, while Ott was a third-team pick. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

Six Ankeny Centennial softball players and four more from Ankeny have received all-state honors from the Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association. Centennial coach Brett Delaney was also honored–he was named the Class 5A coach of the year after guiding the Jaguars to their first state championship.

Senior catcher Sydney Morris of Centennial was selected to the Class 5A third team for the third consecutive year. She batted .401 with six home runs and 47 RBIs while helping the Jaguars to a 36-5 record.

Two of Morris’ teammates, Jordyn Kennedy and Lauren Gustofson, were named to the Class 5A first team along with Ankeny’s Cassie Johnson and Abby Rusher. Lauren Sandholm of Centennial and Larissa Miller of Ankeny were both second-team picks, while Morris was joined on the third team by Mackenzie James and Mady Ott of Centennial and Kendra Winfrey of Ankeny.

Kennedy, a freshman infielder, batted .464 with a team-high 12 homers and 49 RBIs. She was a third-team pick a year ago.

Gustofson, a senior pitcher, compiled a 13-2 record with a 2.39 ERA and 117 strikeouts. She also batted .275 with two homers and 21 RBIs.

Ankeny’s Cassie Johnson catches a pitch during a game at Waukee Northwest on June 26. Johnson has been named to the Class 5A all-state first team by the Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association along with teammate Abby Rusher. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

Johnson, a junior catcher, led Ankeny with a .505 average, 14 homers and 47 RBIs. She helped the Hawkettes to a 31-8 record and their first trip to the state tournament since 2015.

Rusher, a junior pitcher, posted a 19-5 mark with a 1.72 ERA and 143 strikeouts. She also batted .364 with one homer and 34 RBIs while helping Ankeny to a tie for seventh place in Class 5A.

Miller, a senior infielder, batted .404 with 12 RBIs. She led the Hawkettes with 26 walks, 48 runs scored and 39 stolen bases.

Sandholm, an eighth grade pitcher, compiled a 13-1 record with a 1.08 ERA while limiting opposing batters to a .161 average. She helped the Jaguars to the CIML Conference title.

Ankeny Centennial runner Mackenzie James dives back to second base during the Jaguars’ victory over Pleasant Valley in the Class 5A championship game on July 20 at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge. James has been named to the Class 5A all-state third team by the Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association. (Photo courtesy of Jerrad Downer)

James, a senior outfielder, 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.

Ott, a freshman outfielder, batted .432 with seven homers and 42 RBIs while leading the team with two triples. She was earlier named to the Class 5A all-tournament team along with James, Gustofson and Kennedy–who was selected the captain of the squad.

Winfrey, a senior pitcher, posted an 11-0 record with a 1.12 ERA and 82 strikeouts. She also batted .308 with two homers and 23 RBIs.