Jaguars open CIML Conference play by sweeping doubleheader at No. 2 Valley

Ankeny Centennial’s Addie Pollock eludes a tag by Valley catcher Emma Scully to score one of her two runs during the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader at Valley. The Jaguars posted an 8-5 victory to complete a sweep of the twinbill after winning the opener, 4-0. (Photo courtesy of Jerrad Downer)

After dropping five spots to No. 6 in the latest Class 5A rankings, the Ankeny Centennial softball team showed on Wednesday that the defending state champion Jaguars don’t plan to fall any further.

Centennial opened CIML Conference play with an impressive sweep at No. 2 Valley. The Jaguars posted a 4-0 win in the opener, then completed the sweep with an 8-5 triumph.

Centennial improved to 3-2 overall on the season. The Tigers’ record dropped to 2-2.

**Ankeny Centennial’s Jessica Lathrop hits the ball during the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader. She went 2-for-3 and had a double. (Photo courtesy of Jerrad Downer)**

The Jaguars took a 3-0 lead in the third inning of the first game. They later added another run in the sixth.

Jordyn Kennedy went 2-for-3 and drove in a run. Jessica Lathrop also went 2-for-3 and had a double.

Mady Ott, Payton Drefke and Kori Lincicum each had an RBI for Centennial, which got a three-hitter from winning pitcher Lauren Sandholm (1-1). She walked two and had four strikeouts.

Ankeny Centennial’s Lauren Sandholm throws a pitch during the opener of Wednesday’s doubleheader. She tossed a three-hit shutout for the Jaguars, then got the final five outs of the nightcap to complete the sweep. (Photo courtesy of Jerrad Downer)

In the nightcap, Centennial scored three runs in each of the first two innings to build a 6-0 advantage. The Jaguars then held on for the win.

Cora Boyle (2-0) allowed three earned runs on nine hits over the first 5 1/3 innings. Sandholm got the final five outs to preserve the victory.

Lincicum went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBIs. It was her first homer of the season.

Ankeny Centennial’s Cora Boyle reaches first base safely as Valley second baseman Kari Rose tries to catch a throw while covering the bag during Wednesday’s doubleheader. Boyle had three hits on the night. (Photo courtesy of Jerrad Downer)

Boyle went 2-for-4 with a double and drove in a run. Ott and Addi Starr also went 2-for-4 and had an RBI.

Kennedy knocked in two more runs and is now batting .467 on the year. McKenna Vallejo went 2-for-3.

The Jaguars will host two games in the Centennial Invitational on Friday. They will play Class 2A No. 9 Central Springs (4-1) at 10 a.m. and Creston (3-1) at 2 p.m.