The signs of progress have been there for the Ankeny baseball team.
Now, the wins are coming as well.
The Hawks extended their winning streak to a season-high five games with a 6-3 victory over visiting Southeast Polk in a make-up game on Tuesday. They improved to 7-12 in the CIML Conference and 12-19 overall, while the Rams’ records fell to 10-10 and 18-15.
“This group continues to improve every day,” said Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz. “I’m seeing really mature at-bats from a lot of young guys in the lineup. The offense continues to get guys on, and we had some great at-bats with guys in scoring position.”
Ankeny scored a run in the fifth inning to break a 3-3 tie. The Hawks then added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth.
Jackson Romig went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple and one RBI. Easton Lowe doubled and knocked in a run.
“Jack is seeing the ball well right now, and Easton continues to play at a high level since we moved him to the No. 2 hole (in the lineup),” Balvanz said. “He’s also one of the best defensive outfielders I’ve ever been around.”
Samuel Sandvig went 2-for-4 with a triple and drove in a run. Brady Carter added a pair of RBIs as the Hawks clinched the season series after splitting a doubleheader at Southeast Polk on June 5.
“Our seniors did a great job of leading tonight,” Balvanz said. “We overcame three unearned runs with all of those errors coming with two outs in the inning. (Shortstop) Kinnick Vos also played really well.”
Travis Gerstel, another senior, earned the victory by throwing six solid innings. Gerstel (2-1) allowed no earned runs on seven hits and had four strikeouts.
Kyle Clevidence then recorded the final three outs.
“It was Gerstel’s best outing of the year,” Balvanz said. “He did a great job of locating tonight. He really impressed me with his poise, then Clev came in and did his job.”
Ankeny will play a conference game on Wednesday at third-ranked Waukee Northwest, which moved closer to the league title by sweeping a doubleheader on Monday at Urbandale. The Wolves, who have won seven straight games, are now 14-6 in the conference and 25-7 overall.
Northwest swept a twinbill at Ankeny on June 9.