‘This was a tough loss’: Defending state champs fall to Waukee in regional final

The Ankeny Centennial players meet with coach Brett Delaney in the outfield after the Jaguars lost to visiting Waukee, 3-0, in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday. Centennial ends the season with a 29-10 record. (Photo by Jerrad Downer)

Back on May 23, the Ankeny Centennial softball team opened its season with a 1-0 loss to eventual Class 4A state qualifier Norwalk.

Fifty-four days later, the defending state champion Jaguars closed out their campaign with another shutout loss on their home field.

Lillie Struck tossed a two-hitter and retired 13 of the last 14 batters that she faced to lead 13th-ranked Waukee to a 3-0 victory over No. 6 Centennial in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday.

**Ankeny Centennial’s Cora Boyle gives her team a pep talk toward the end of Tuesday’s game. She is one of eight seniors who will have to be replaced next year. (Photo by Jerrad Downer)**

“This was a tough loss, but I’m proud of my team for battling until the very last pitch,” said Centennial freshman Lauren Sandholm.

It was the sixth straight win for Waukee (20-17), which avenged a CIML Conference doubleheader loss at Centennial on June 12. The Warriors advanced to next week’s state tournament at Fort Dodge.

Centennial was held scoreless for only the third time this season. The Jaguars finished with a 29-10 record.

**Ankeny Centennial’s Addi Starr celebrates at second base after hitting a leadoff double during the first inning of Tuesday’s game. She had one of the Jaguars’ two hits. (Photo by Jerrad Downer)**

Struck allowed only a leadoff double by Addi Starr in the first inning and a bunt single by Sandholm in the second. She walked three batters and hit another one with a pitch, but none of the Jaguar runners even reached third base.

Struck, a sophomore who entered the night with a 4.49 ERA, had only two strikeouts but got stronger as the game progressed. She retired 12 consecutive batters before Mary Brantley was hit by a pitch with two outs in the seventh inning.

Struck then retired pinch-hitter Kori Lincicum on a grounder to end the game.

**Ankeny Centennial’s Lauren Sandholm pitches to a Waukee batter during Tuesday’s game. She allowed three earned runs on eight hits in the Jaguars’ loss. (Photo by Jerrad Downer)**

Sandholm (14-7) took the loss. She allowed three earned runs on eight hits and had six strikeouts.

“I tried to come out aggressive as I do against all opponents,” Sandholm said. “There are a few game-changing pitches I wish I could get back, but credit to Waukee for coming out and competing the way they did.”

**Ankeny Centennial centerfielder Mady Ott tries to make a leaping catch at the fence on a home run by Waukee’s Mara Yokiel during the first inning of Tuesday’s game. (Photo by Jerrad Downer)**

The Warriors scored all of their runs on a pair of long balls. After Ella McGee reached on an infield single to open the game, Mara Yokiel followed one out later with a two-run homer–her second of the season.

In the fourth, Jaden Van Pelt led off with another blast over the fence. It was her first home run of the year.

Waukee entered the game with just 12 roundtrippers in 36 contests, one fewer than Centennial’s Mady Ott had hit all by herself.

**Ankeny Centennial’s McKenna Vallejo swings at a pitch from Waukee’s Lillie Struck during Tuesday’s game. (Photo by Jerrad Downer)**

“This is definitely a learning experience I will use to continue to grow and get better in the coming years,” Sandholm said.

The Jaguars were seeking their fourth trip to the state tournament in the last five seasons. They placed third in 2020 and second in 2021 before winning the Class 5A crown a year ago.

Waukee will play No. 2 Pleasant Valley (37-3) in the Class 5A quarterfinals on Monday at 12:15 p.m.