Jaguars roll past Waukee twice, move into tie for first place in CIML Conference

Ankeny Centennial’s Addi Starr heads back to the dugout after hitting a home run during the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader against visiting Waukee. She helped the Jaguars to a sweep. (Photo courtesy of Jerrad Downer)

The Ankeny Centennial softball team moved into a tie for first place in the CIML Conference by sweeping a doubleheader against visiting Waukee on Wednesday.

The fifth-ranked Jaguars rolled to a 10-0 victory in five innings in the opener, then completed the sweep with an 8-4 triumph. They improved to 7-1 in the conference and 15-4 overall, while No. 9 Waukee’s records dropped to 2-8 and 8-11.

Centennial now shares the league lead with No. 2 Waukee Northwest.

“Overall, it was one of the best doubleheaders we’ve played all year,” said Centennial coach Brett Delaney, whose team has averaged nearly 10 runs per contest during its current six-game winning streak. “We got on the board early in the first game, and we found a way to finish it off in five innings.”

**Ankeny Centennial’s Mady Ott (middle) celebrates with her teammates after hitting a home run during Wednesday’s opener. (Photo courtesy of Jerrad Downer)**

Mady Ott hit a two-run homer in the first inning of the opener, her sixth of the season. Addi Starr then followed with a solo blast, her first of the year.

Starr went 2-for-2 and also had a three-run double during the Jaguars’ six-run outburst in the second. Jessica Lathrop went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, including a walk-off single in the fifth.

Lauren Sandholm (6-2) tossed a two-hitter and had eight strikeouts.

“Lauren threw a nice game on her birthday,” Delaney said.

Ankeny Centennial pitcher Lauren Sandholm goes into her windup during the first game of Wednesday’s twinbill. She tossed a two-hitter and had eight strikeouts to earn the win on her birthday. (Photo courtesy of Jerrad Downer)

In the nightcap, Cora Boyle (9-0) scattered seven hits to remain unbeaten. She allowed two earned runs and had two strikeouts.

Ellie Lorenz went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs. It was her first career home run.

“She’s been working really hard,” Delaney said. “She got up in the count and looked for her pitch and got ahold of one. We knew she had it in her.”

Payton Drefke went 3-for-4 with a double and drove in a run. Lathrop again went 2-for-3 and had one RBI, while Starr doubled and knocked in a run.

The Ankeny Centennial players stand for the national anthem before the start of Wednesday’s doubleheader. The Jaguars wore blue ribbons in their hair to honor Ankeny Fanatic photographer Drue Wolfe, who passed away earlier this week. (Photo courtesy of Jerrad Downer)

The Centennial players asked Delaney before the twinbill if they could do something to honor Ankeny Fanatic photographer Drue Wolfe, who passed away earlier in the week.

“They really appreciated everything that he did, so they wore blue ribbons and had Drue written on them,” he said.

The Jaguars will compete in the Fort Dodge Invitational on Friday and Saturday. They will open the 16-team tournament against Sioux City Heelan (9-9).