After dropping a second consecutive one-run game, the Ankeny Centennial baseball team needed an ace to take the mound for the nightcap of Wednesday’s doubleheader against visiting Southeast Polk.
The ninth-ranked Jaguars had just the right guy in Will Morris.
The junior righthander tossed a two-hitter and had 12 strikeouts to lead Centennial to a 2-1 victory and a split of the twinbill. The Jaguars had lost the opener, 4-3, after dropping a 2-1 decision at Ankeny on Monday.
“It was definitely important to bounce back from those losses,” said Morris. “We know in the CIML there are no easy games, and we need to show up every day and compete.”
Morris (3-0) needed just 90 pitches to go the distance. He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning.
“I felt really comfortable on the mound, and that’s all props to my catcher Brekken Miller and my defense behind me,” Morris said.
Kohen Bollwinkel and Isaac Bruhl each drove in a run as Centennial snapped the Rams’ five-game winning streak. The Jaguars had just three hits off Southeast Polk pitchers Teague Cantrall and Mason Olson, who combined for nine strikeouts.
Cantrall knocked in the Rams’ lone run in the seventh inning.
“Will just had an outstanding game,” said Centennial coach Mark Hey. “He’s a competitor–we call them bulldogs. They just go out and battle, and that was him tonight. If any adversity happened–if anyone got on base–he just battled. I’m super proud and super impressed with how he pitched.”
Southeast Polk used a three-run third inning to break a 1-1 tie in the first game. The Jaguars answered with two runs in the fifth, but it wasn’t enough.
“Both games were very competitive,” Hey said. “It was two great high school baseball games. Well-pitched and good defense on both sides.”
Noah Trexel tossed an eight-hitter for the Rams in the opener. He also drove in a run.
“They have a really good team, and we saw three pretty good pitchers tonight,” Hey said. “I think they’ll be competitive with anyone in the CIML.”
Southeast Polk’s Maddox Bartling went 2-for-3, scored twice and knocked in a run. Kaden Hills had two RBIs.
Morris went 4-for-4 and had an RBI in the loss. Grant Crowner went 2-for-3 and drove in a run, and Trae Houser also had an RBI.
Elijah Starr (0-1) went the distance for the Jaguars. He allowed four earned runs on five hits and had four strikeouts.
Centennial is now 3-3 in the CIML Conference and 5-4 overall. The Rams are 3-1 and 11-5.
The Jaguars will play another conference doubleheader on Thursday at No. 7 Waukee Northwest. The Wolves are 3-2 in the league and 9-2 overall after sweeping No. 1 Waukee on Wednesday.
