The Ankeny baseball team traveled to Dowling Catholic on Monday for a CIML Conference doubleheader against the Maroons, who could potentially host the Hawks again in a Class 4A substate semifinal on July 14.
That possibility led to both squads making some adjustments to their lineups, especially with the use of their pitchers. Neither coach wanted the opposing batters to see a pitcher that they could face again in two weeks.
“Since we’re in the same substate, neither one of us was trying to show the other too much,” said Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz. “There were times when they left guys out on the mound just to eat up some innings.”
Still, the Hawks wanted to keep their momentum going after winning a pair of games on Saturday, and they did just that by sweeping the twinbill. They posted a 6-3 victory in the first game, then extended their winning streak to four games with an 11-5 win in the nightcap.
Ankeny improved to 6-12 in the CIML Conference and 11-19 overall, while the Maroons’ records fell to 6-11 and 13-14. The Hawks avenged a 13-1 loss in five innings on June 11.
“We played really well at times,” Balvanz said. “We had a great (batting practice) earlier in the day, and we came out and did a nice job of hitting line drives.”
In the second game, Ankeny took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and then added three more runs in the third. Dowling later scored four runs in the sixth to pull within 7-5 before the Hawks answered with a four-run seventh to complete the sweep.
“We were in control the whole way,” Balvanz said. “We had to bring Brady (Carter) in to shut the door. He’s just such a gamer, and he’s been a great leader for us. He also had a big hit in the top of the seventh to get us our last run. I’m really proud of him.”
Carter allowed no hits and had two strikeouts over the final 1 2/3 innings to earn a save. He preserved the win for Brayden Kern (1-0), the first of four Ankeny pitchers in the game.
Carter went 4-for-5 at the plate and drove in three runs. Jackson Romig went 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs.
Kinnick Vos went 2-for-5 and scored a pair of runs. RJ St. Romain added two RBIs.
“Dowling had been playing well, but we swept them over there for the second year in a row,” Balvanz said.
The Hawks won the opener behind Will Davies (1-3), who allowed one earned run on eight hits and had six strikeouts over the first 6 2/3 innings. Davies will likely get the start in Ankeny’s substate quarterfinal at 10th-ranked Indianola on July 11 and thus wouldn’t face the Maroons again three days later if both teams advance.
“Will is a guy that whenever he takes the ball to the mound, we have a chance to win,” Balvanz said. “It was just another tremendous performance from him. He did a really nice job. He can pitch, and he’s confident with any pitch in any count. I’m just trying to keep him in rhythm.”
After Davies threw 97 pitches, he was replaced by freshman Norman Ha, who hit one batter before retiring the next one to end the game.
“I wanted to see what Norman could do in a tough spot,” Balvanz said. “He came in and did a nice job to get the save with the tying run at the plate.”
Sam Sandvig went 2-for-4 in the win. He hit a two-run double to highlight a four-run fourth inning, then came home on a single by Vos to make it 6-1.
Kobe Behrens went 1-for-3, scored a run and knocked in another for the Hawks, who will host a make-up conference game against Southeast Polk (10-9, 18-14) on Tuesday at 5 p.m. The two teams split a doubleheader on June 5 at Pleasant Hill.
