Senior catcher Makenna Foster helped the Ankeny Centennial softball team to a 34-10 record and a third-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament. She went 2-for-3 and drove in four runs as the Jaguars rolled to a 10-2 win over Cedar Falls in six innings in the consolation final on Thursday at Harlan Rogers Park.
Foster batted .316 on the season with one home run, nine doubles and 24 RBIs. She was named to the CIML Conference third team.
Here is some inside info on Foster:
Congratulations on an outstanding season. What was your favorite moment from the week you spent at the state tournament in Fort Dodge?
My favorite moment from state was our final game against Cedar Falls. It was a time where I could focus on soaking in each moment on the field with my best friends.
You told me after Thursday’s game that it’s going to be really difficult for you to move on to the next phase of your life. What will you miss the most about playing for Centennial?
I will miss the people the most. These people are my best friends, and sharing the field with them has been a blast. I will also miss our coaches. They have helped me grow as a player and a person during my time in the program.
You were one of only three seniors on the team, and a catcher is often one of the team leaders by virtue of playing that position. So did you embrace being a leader for the team?
I would say I embraced my leadership role but along with us seniors, we had people in all different grades leading in different ways.
Did you try to mentor some of the younger players like freshman pitcher Peyten Spiegel, who got the start in the final game?
I have known Peyten for a really long time so having her on the mound this season was special. I tried my best to make her transition to the team smooth as I remember the nerves of what it was like. Peyten is an extremely hard worker and great competitor, but she’s also a wonderful teammate so I knew she would fit right in.
Your team lost to top-ranked Waukee Northwest, the eventual champion, in Wednesday’s semifinals. Were you happy to see a team from the CIML capture the title?
It was pretty cool to see a CIML team win, especially knowing the talent the state of Iowa has.
You drew a walk and had a double against Northwest pitcher Sophia Schlader, who allowed just three runs in three games and was named the captain of the all-tournament team. What makes her so difficult to hit, and how were you able to have some success against her?
She is a great pitcher and she mixes spin and speed very well, which makes each pitch a battle. We had seen her two other times this season so I was able to learn from each of my prior at-bats against her.
Two of your teammates, Jordyn Kennedy and Mady Ott, earned spots on the all-tournament team. What can you say about their performances at state, and have they ever done anything on the field that surprised you?
Jordyn and Mady are very hard workers, and their performances were a testament to the work they have put in. I wouldn’t say anything they have done has surprised me. They are great athletes and teammates so I have full faith in them any time they are up to bat or have the ball in their hands.
You played in the IGCA All-Star games on Saturday at Waukee, and coach Delaney was one of the two coaches for your White team. What was that experience like, and was it fun to be coached by Delaney one last time?
It was a great experience. I enjoyed getting to know players on teams we have faced as well as players from different classes. Having coach Delaney coach me one last time was amazing. We were out there just having fun, and that in my opinion is a great way to go out.
You are headed to Grand View to play for the Vikings. Do you think you’ll be able to compete for playing time right away?
I am so excited to be a Viking and excited to fulfill whatever my role is and do it to the best of my ability.
What are you going to study in college?
I will be studying Physical Education.
You’ve probably heard that the 2026 state softball tournament will switch to a double-elimination format. Do you think that will be a positive change for the tournament?
It could be both a positive and a negative. We play a long regular season so the extra games will take a toll on players’ bodies and minds, but it will also extend the joys of state week!