While the Waukee softball team opened its season on Tuesday with a doubleheader sweep over Des Moines Lincoln, Ankeny Centennial wasn’t as fortunate.
The Jaguars were hoping to tune up for their CIML Conference opener at Waukee with a game at Norwalk, but Tuesday’s non-conference contest was postponed due to rain.
Without a game under its belt, second-ranked Centennial traveled to Waukee on Wednesday and dropped a 4-3 decision in its season opener. The No. 11 Warriors (3-0) rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to erase a 3-2 deficit.
“It’s not easy coming right into the best competition in the state,” said Centennial coach Brett Delaney. “We were ready, but it just didn’t work out tonight. We made some mistakes in that sixth inning, but it’s all things that are fixable. We’ll just have to work on them as a group.”
Kori Lincicum went the distance in the loss. She allowed two earned runs on five hits and had eight strikeouts.
Jordyn Kennedy went 2-for-3 for the Jaguars. She hit a solo home run in the first inning–the 29th blast of her career.
Centennial added another run in the third before Waukee tied it on a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame.
“It was a back and forth battle,” Delaney said. “Every night you get an opportunity to play CIML competition, it’s going to be a tough game.”
The Jaguars regained the lead in the top of the sixth. Freshman pinch-hitter Gracie Anderson hit a two-out single for her first varsity hit, then raced home on a double by Camden Starr.
Centennial’s Lauren Bartine also doubled and scored a run. Ava Faber went 2-for-4 and had an RBI.
The Jaguars will travel to Johnston on Thursday for a conference doubleheader against the No. 10 Dragons (1-0), who opened their season on Wednesday with a 6-4 win at Ankeny.
“We’re fortunate we get another opportunity to play Thursday,” Delaney said.