Senior catcher and third baseman Addi Starr has helped the sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team to a 26-9 record. The Jaguars are 11-3 in the CIML Conference, putting them in a four-way tie for first place atop the league standings heading into Monday’s doubleheader at home against No. 11 Urbandale.
Starr drove in the winning run in the ninth inning to give Centennial a 3-2 victory at No. 5 Waukee Northwest in the second game of a twinbill on Saturday. The win kept the Jaguars’ title hopes alive after Northwest had won the opener, 3-1.
Starr is batting .373 with one home run and 25 RBIs. She leads the team with 13 doubles.
Here is some inside info on Starr:
You’ve been on the varsity team since you were an eighth grader. Is it hard to believe that your high school career is about over?
I have loved being a part of this program. It has given me so much, and I definitely am emotional wrapping up my senior season. I’ll definitely be back though, whether cheering them on or helping in anyway I can!
Your sister, Camden, joined the varsity last year as an eighth grader, too. Have you enjoyed playing on the same team together?
Playing with Cami has been great. We have become as close as ever! A couple weeks ago she dislocated her shoulder diving into second so she is on the mend right now, but I can’t wait for her to be back.
The conference title was pretty much at stake on Saturday at Waukee Northwest. What did you think of your team’s performance?
Northwest is a great team, and we were really excited to compete. We fought hard and had two highly competitive games. I definitely think we could have executed a little better in the first game, but we pulled through in the second game.
How important is winning the conference to your team?
Winning a conference is super cool, but in the long run we’re aiming for another state championship.
Your team played three games in the last week against top-10 opponents. Do you think it helped prepare you for postseason play?
I think our whole season was designed to challenge us and prepare us for our postseason run. We are as ready as we can be and can’t wait to be back in Fort Dodge!
Your team will host Marshalltown or Iowa City West in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday. Do you know much about either team?
As of right now we don’t have much, but I know we have amazing people who go out and scout for us. I expect our upcoming practices will be designed to prepare us for one of those two teams.
With a win, your team would host No. 14 Waukee or Dowling Catholic in the regional final on July 16. Your team has already swept both of those conference rivals, so would it matter to you which of those opponents you would face?
We’ll be ready for anything, but we aren’t concerned about that game yet. We play one game at a time.
Your team cruised to the Class 5A championship last year, winning the three games at the state tournament by a combined margin of 29-2, and also won the Fort Dodge Invitational on the same field earlier this season. How much will that previous experience help you if you can get back to state?
This is a new team in the postseason. Everything we’ve done before is in the past. Anything can happen come postseason.
Eight of the top 14 teams in the Class 5A rankings are from the CIML Conference. Do you expect to see several of your conference rivals in Fort Dodge?
The CIML is the best conference in the state, and I expect to see a bunch of them at state.
You are headed to Central College in the fall to play for the Dutch. Did they recruit you primarily to play as a catcher, or is that still to be determined?
I will be going to Central as a third baseman and will be moving away from the catcher’s spot. Rylee Dunkin does amazing there, and coach (George) Wares is also bringing in two freshman catchers: Sydney Hoskins and Maddy Shannon.
Your mother, Missy, was one of the captains on the 2002 Central squad, and she also played for coach Wares. What was her reaction when you told her you wanted to follow in her footsteps?
My parents were going to support me wherever I went. I may be going to Central like her, but I am making my own path.
