Five Jaguars earn all-state honors along with Ankeny’s Rusher, ACA’s Quick

Ankeny Centennial runner Mady Ott gets ready to take off from first base during a Class 5A regional final against visiting Waukee on July 16. Ott has been named to the Class 5A all-state first team by the Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association along with fellow sophomore Jordyn Kennedy, who was a repeat selection to the squad. (Photo by Jerrad Downer)

Five Ankeny Centennial softball players have received all-state honors from the Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association along with Abby Rusher of Ankeny and Katie Quick of Ankeny Christian Academy.

The Jaguars placed Jordyn Kennedy, Mady Ott and Lauren Sandholm on the Class 5A first team. They were joined on the squad by Rusher, who was a repeat pick along with Kennedy.

Centennial’s Cora Boyle and Addi Starr were both third-team selections. Quick, meanwhile, was a second-team pick in Class 1A.

Kennedy, a sophomore infielder, led the Jaguars to a 29-10 record and a share of the CIML Conference title. She batted .460 with 12 home runs, 10 doubles and 39 RBIs.

Ankeny’s Abby Rusher throws a pitch during a game at Ankeny Centennial on June 26. Rusher has been named to the Class 5A all-state first team for the second straight year by the Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association after leading the Hawkettes to a 22-22 record and a fourth-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament. (Photo by Jerrad Downer)

Rusher, a senior pitcher, led the Hawkettes to a 22-22 mark and a fourth-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament. She was named to the all-tournament team.

Rusher posted a 15-11 record with a 1.92 ERA and 172 strikeouts. The Creighton recruit also batted .196 with one homer, five doubles and nine RBIs.

Ott and Sandholm were also first-team picks after being named to the third and second teams, respectively, a year ago.

Ott, a sophomore outfielder, batted .378 with 13 homers, seven doubles and 39 RBIs. She tied for seventh in the entire state in home runs.

Ankeny Centennial pitcher Lauren Sandholm makes a delivery to home plate during a game against visiting Johnston on June 3. Sandholm has been selected to the Class 5A all-state first team by the Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association after helping the Jaguars to a 29-10 record and a share of the CIML Conference championship. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

Sandholm, a freshman pitcher, went 14-7 with a 1.58 ERA while racking up 150 strikeouts. She also batted .302 with one homer and six RBIs.

Boyle, a senior pitcher and second baseman, went 15-1 with a 2.30 ERA. The University of Maryville recruit also batted .354 with six doubles and 20 RBIs.

Starr, a senior third baseman and catcher, batted .397 with one homer and 27 RBIs. The Central College commit, who was a second-team pick as a sophomore in 2022, tied for fifth in Class 5A with 18 doubles.

Ankeny Christian Academy’s Katie Quick throws a pitch during a game against visiting Coon Rapids-Bayard in a Class 1A regional quarterfinal on July 10. Quick has been named to the Class 1A all-state second team by the Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association after leading the Eagles to an 18-7 record in their first season as a varsity program. (Photo by Dan Holm)

Quick, a junior, led the Eagles to an 18-7 record in their first season as a varsity program. She pitched and also played other positions.

Quick batted .587 with 12 homers, three triples, 11 doubles and 38 RBIs. She also went 8-5 in the pitcher’s circle with a 2.75 ERA and 87 strikeouts.

Quick, a Drake volleyball recruit, ranked among the state leaders in multiple categories. She was second in slugging percentage (1.293), ninth in batting average and 10th in on-base percentage (.644).