Senior catcher Brady Carter has helped the Ankeny baseball team to a 14-19 record, including an 8-12 mark in the CIML Conference. The Hawks are currently riding a seven-game winning streak.
Carter is batting .287 with five doubles and a team-high 20 RBIs. He doubled and drove in three runs as the Hawks celebrated their Senior Night with a 6-5 victory over visiting Dallas Center-Grimes in a non-conference game on Thursday.
Here is some inside info on Carter:
Congratulations on your team’s recent hot streak. What has been the key to the turnaround?
Defensively, we have helped our pitchers by making plays in the field. Our starting pitchers and relievers have delivered quality outings, and we have been hitting up and down the lineup, especially with two outs driving in runs in key spots. It has been complementary team baseball, and everyone is contributing to the success. I can’t just call out one or two players because it has been a total team effort. Younger players called up during the season and upperclassmen alike have all contributed. It’s a special group, and we have really come together down the stretch. That confidence is growing every day. We believe we are going to win the second we step on the field.
The winning streak began with a 6-5 victory over second-ranked Cedar Rapids Prairie in the Brent Prange Classic on June 28, when your team rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn the walk-off win. Do you think that was the spark that the team needed?
No question. We suffered a tough loss against Centennial in the previous game in almost the exact same fashion that we were able to beat Prairie. We have learned from those experiences earlier in the year to help propel us into this winning streak.
Your team also posted a 5-3 win at No. 3 Waukee Northwest on Wednesday. After those two victories, do you have the confidence now that your team can play with anyone in the state?
I feel like we are playing our best baseball of the season right now, and our team collectively is playing with a lot of confidence. We have shown we can play with and beat any team in the state.
Zach Halverson tossed a six-hitter and had nine strikeouts to snap the Wolves’ seven-game winning streak. What pitches were working for Zach, and is that the best game you’ve ever caught from him?
It took a couple innings to get settled, and after that he was able to locate every pitch. He was dialed in and attacking each hitter. As the game went on, Zach got stronger and the team fed off of that. Zach has had good outings this season, but that was clearly his best. Zach is a great competitor, and I’m happy that he’s on our team.
I know coach Joe Balvanz recently moved into the dugout and has started working more closely with you and the pitchers on calling the games. Has that been an adjustment for you?
All season, coach Balvanz and I have been communicating about our pitchers and what we are seeing in the bullpen and out on the field. Once coach began calling games it has added a new dynamic to our in-game strategy, and it has really paid off.
There is now a three-way tie atop the conference between Waukee Northwest, Valley and No. 5 Johnston. Your team will host a doubleheader against the Tigers on Monday and will then close out the regular season on Wednesday with another twinbill at Johnston, so you could have a huge impact on the race. Will you enjoy playing the role of a spoiler?
We are looking forward to the opportunity to continue playing at a high level and have an impact on how the CIML regular season standings finish up. We embrace our role as a spoiler and want to keep rolling into the postseason.
Your team will open postseason play on Friday with a Class 4A substate quarterfinal at Indianola. What do you know about the Indians?
Indianola has had a great season to date and will be an incredibly tough challenge for us. They are 28-5 for a reason. They are a complete team, they hit, field and pitch at a high level. Our team is looking forward to the opportunity that lies ahead against a great opponent.
With a victory, you would advance to a substate semifinal on July 14 and could be headed back to Dowling Catholic, where you just swept a doubleheader last Monday. I know you can’t look too far ahead, but do you think you match up well with the Maroons?
I don’t know if we match up well, but there is certainly familiarity on both sides. Every team in the CIML presents a difficult challenge, and Dowling is no different. They mercy-ruled us the first time around at our place, and we were able to have success at their field last week. Playing the same team a fourth time in a season, there are no secrets. Whether it’s Dowling or Ottumwa, we would welcome that opportunity, but we are focusing on Indianola right now.
No. 6 Iowa City High is the top seed in your bracket and will likely host the substate final on July 16. Your team dropped an 8-1 decision to the Little Hawks on May 24 at Cedar Rapids Kennedy, and I’m sure you’d love another opportunity to play them. What do you remember about that game?
We had some early miscues, and the game got away from us. We would love to get another opportunity to match up against City High. Both teams will be different compared to the game we played in mid-May, so I’m not sure how much either team can draw from that game. That being said, City High is a great ballclub and would present a big challenge.
I know some of your teammates are planning to play in college next year. Will you be taking your game to the next level?
As of now, my plans are to attend the University of Northern Iowa in the fall and major in construction management. I hear they have a really competitive club team at UNI since they eliminated their D-I baseball program several years ago. I may look into that.
Did you do anything special to celebrate the Fourth of July?
I spent time with my friends and family, enjoying all that celebrating our country’s independence has to offer.