Despite dropping a 5-0 decision on Wednesday at top-ranked Waukee Northwest, the Ankeny softball team made the Wolves work for their 25th consecutive victory.
Northwest led by only 2-0 through four innings. The Wolves tacked on a run in the fifth inning, then added two more in the sixth to wrap up the outright CIML Conference championship.
“It was some tough competition,” said Ankeny coach Sarah Saladino. “It was a close game until the end.”
Sophia Schlader tossed a two-hitter and racked up 11 strikeouts for the Wolves, who avenged a loss to Ankeny in the quarterfinals of last year’s Class 5A state tournament. Schlader also went 2-for-3 with a double and had one RBI.
Sarah Munger and Tenley Heidemann each had a hit for the Hawkettes.
“(Schlader) throws really well, and it was just a great opportunity for us to keep getting better at the plate,” Saladino said. “In the CIML or the state of Iowa, you want to play the best softball (teams). I just enjoy seeing what the girls can do when we’re facing different competition every night.”
Ankeny’s Aubrey Lensmeyer (8-12) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on seven hits. Meredith Thomsen went 2-for-3, scored a run and drove in another for the Wolves.
“Aubrey threw a great game against a really good team,” Saladino said. “She was tough on the mound. She only gave up one extra-base hit, and that says a lot about the way she pitched.”
Northwest improved to 20-2 in the conference and 32-3 overall. The Hawkettes’ records dropped to 6-16 and 11-23.
Ankeny will play a pair of Class 4A ranked opponents at the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational on Thursday. The Hawkettes will face No. 4 ADM (23-3) at 11 a.m. and No. 7 North Polk (25-5) at 2:30 p.m.
