Road to state could go through Iowa City for Centennial, Ankeny baseball teams

Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz looks on as Ankeny Centennial third baseman Will Morris makes a throw to first for an out during the Hawks’ 2-1 victory on June 2 at Ankeny. The two teams will play a doubleheader at Centennial on Wednesday, when the Iowa High School Athletic Association also announced its postseason pairings for Class 4A. The Jaguars will host Marshalltown in a Substate 7 quarterfinal, while Ankeny will travel to Indianola for a Substate 6 quarterfinal on Friday, July 11 at 7 p.m. (Photo by Jerrad Downer)

The road to the state tournament could potentially go through Iowa City for both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial baseball teams.

Ninth-ranked Centennial (14-7) has been placed in Class 4A Substate 7 by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. The second-seeded Jaguars will host Marshalltown (6-15) in a quarterfinal game on Friday, July 11 at 7 p.m.

No. 8 Iowa City Liberty (22-6) is the top seed in Substate 7. The Lightning will host Waterloo West (3-24) in the quarterfinals, while third-seeded Iowa City West (13-13) will host Linn-Mar (Marion) (12-15) in the other quarterfinal.

The highest remaining seed will receive a bye and then host the substate final on Wednesday, July 16 at 7 p.m. The other two teams will meet in a semifinal game on Monday, July 14 at 7 p.m.

Ankeny (7-17) has been placed in Class 4A Substate 6. The fifth-seeded Hawks will play at second-seeded Indianola (20-4) in a quarterfinal game on Friday, July 11 at 7 p.m.

No. 3 Iowa City High (20-5) is the top seed in Substate 6. The Little Hawks will host Cedar Rapids Jefferson (2-24) in the quarterfinals, while third-seeded Dowling Catholic (11-9) will host Ottumwa (16-8) in the other quarterfinal.

The highest remaining seed will receive a bye and then host the substate final on Wednesday, July 16 at 7 p.m. The other two teams will meet in a semifinal game on Monday, July 14 at 7 p.m.