The Ankeny baseball team has already dug itself a hole in the CIML Conference race.
After getting off to an 0-6 start, the Hawks likely aren’t going to contend for the league crown. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t play the role of a spoiler.
Ankeny traveled to Waukee Northwest on Monday for a doubleheader against the Wolves, who entered the week in a tie for first place with Urbandale and Waukee. The Hawks pulled off a stunning sweep, posting a 1-0 victory in the opener before using a late rally to win the nightcap, 6-3.
“I feel like they’re buying in to what I’m asking them to do,” Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz said of his players. “They’re understanding how to play team baseball. And to get a road sweep after playing 23 innings on Saturday, I’m really proud of them.”
Ankeny earned its first conference win in the first game, getting a combined four-hitter from Hunter Minner and Kyle Clevidence.
“That was amazing,” Ankeny leftfielder Kobe Behrens said of the pitchers’ performances. “I think it’s the best I’ve ever seen them throw, especially Minner. That was just an amazing job back-to-back from the pitchers.”
Minner (2-3) scattered four hits over the first five innings.
“That was the best outing of Minner’s career,” Balvanz said. “He has tremendous stuff and when he stays over the plate, he’s a challenging person to deal with on the mound. I was really proud of his composure to get five innings out of him.”
Minner walked two and had six strikeouts in a 102-pitch outing.
“I was really just throwing what I believed in and trusting my guys, because I know I’ve got some good guys behind me,” said Minner. “Just trusting that they can make plays, which they did.”
The Wolves threatened to take the lead in the third inning after a leadoff double by James Gilmore. Joe Vinyard hit a single to left with two outs, but courtesy runner Lucas McKay was gunned down at the plate by a perfect throw from Behrens to catcher Drake Allison.
“I had a very good transition,” Behrens said. “I fielded the ball cleanly, and I knew he was out the second the ball left my hands.”
Northwest starter Kaeden Bahnsen was replaced after tossing four hitless innings and racking up five strikeouts, despite throwing only 62 pitches. The Hawks then scored the game’s only run in the top of the fifth off reliever Gavin Jensen.
Norman Ha reached on a single and eventually came home on a two-out single by Ace Parton. Those were Ankeny’s only two hits.
“That’s a good team, but they threw me some hittable pitches,” said Parton. “I just tried to do the most with them that I could.”
Clevidence took over on the mound in the sixth inning and retired all six batters he faced to earn a save.
“Kyle was phenomenal,” Balvanz said.
Clevidence pounded the strike zone, needing just 27 pitches to close out the game–which ended when third baseman Maddux Boock made a nice grab to take a hit away from Gilmore.
“My fastball and curveball were working,” said Clevidence. “The splitter wasn’t there today, but I got those other two going so that’s all I needed. And I got my good defense behind me, and they were just working there.”
In the second game, Ankeny scored three runs in the sixth to erase the Wolves’ 2-1 lead. After Northwest got a run in the bottom of the frame, the Hawks added two more in the seventh to seal the win.
Clevidence, Ryan Wille, Behrens and Ha each had an RBI for Ankeny, which improved to 2-6 in the conference and 4-13 overall. The Wolves’ records dropped to 5-4 and 10-5.
Allison went 2-for-3, while Jack Romig had a double and scored a pair of runs. Parton went 2-for-4 and also scored a run.
“It’s definitely looking up for us,” Parton said. “We’re coming together and looking more like a team.”
Ethan Poock (1-0) earned the win in relief of Ryan Buffington. He had two strikeouts over 2 2/3 hitless innings.
Ha then got the final six outs to pick up a save.
“Norm got a little tired at the end, but he gutted it out and finished it,” Balvanz said.
The Hawks were coming off a 16-inning win over previously unbeaten Indianola on Saturday.
“That’s what got the ball rolling,” Clevidence said. “We just need to keep our momentum going and get us some more wins under our belt.”
Ankeny will play a conference game on Wednesday at Dowling Catholic, which split a doubleheader against Ankeny Centennial on Monday. The Maroons are 2-5 in the league and 5-8 overall.
