‘They are a tough team to beat’: Ankeny girls fall twice to No. 1 Wolves, Schlader

Ankeny’s Brylee Bach bunts the ball during the second game of Monday’s doubleheader at Waukee Northwest. Bach had one of the Hawkettes’ four hits, but Northwest posted a 5-0 win to complete a sweep of the twinbill. The Wolves won the opener, 9-0, in five innings. (Photo by Scott Byers)

Waukee Northwest’s Sophia Schlader showed again on Monday night why she’s considered one of the top softball players in the nation.

The sophomore tossed a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts to lead the top-ranked Wolves to a 9-0 victory over visiting Ankeny in five innings in the first game of a doubleheader.

Northwest, the defending state champion, then completed a sweep with a 5-0 win in the nightcap. Schlader also homered in both games, giving her a state-leading 10 blasts on the season.

“They are a tough team to beat–they are well coached with two strong pitchers,” Ankeny coach Sarah Saladino said of the Wolves. “It was a great opponent to be up against and challenge us.”

**Ankeny coach Sarah Saladino talks to her players on the field during the break between games at Monday’s doubleheader. (Photo by Scott Byers)**

Northwest coach Carrie Eby earned her 500th career win in the opener. Kenley Sanger and Maya Twigg each doubled and drove in two runs for the Wolves.

Schlader led off the bottom of the first inning with a homer off Emma Munger (1-3). Munger allowed three earned runs on three hits over 2 1/3 innings.

Schlader nearly tossed a perfect game in the circle. The only base runner she allowed was Tenley Heidemann, who drew a one-out walk in the second and was left stranded.

While the Hawkettes struggled at the plate, Saladino was proud of her team’s defensive effort on the night.

**Ankeny shortstop Kensington Arringdale makes a throw to first base from her knees after making a diving stop during Monday’s twinbill. (Photo by Scott Byers)**

“We only had two errors total in the doubleheader,” she said. “We made some tough defensive plays tonight that gave us a little bit of momentum, but we need to capitalize on the opportunities offensively.”

Morgan Fisher, Brylee Bach, Kensington Arringdale and Sarah Munger each had a hit for Ankeny in the second game. But the Hawkettes fanned 13 more times against Northwest’s Taylor Nuss.

Taylor Hinshaw (2-3) went the distance in the circle. She allowed five earned runs on 10 hits.

“Taylor threw a tough game on the mound against a strong offense,” Saladino said.

**Ankeny’s Taylor Hinshaw throws a pitch during the second game of Monday’s doubleheader. She allowed five earned runs on 10 hits in the Hawkettes’ loss. (Photo by Scott Byers)**

Schlader went 3-for-4 with a homer and a triple. Alayna Schulte also homered and knocked in two runs.

Northwest improved to 7-1 in the CIML Conference and 11-1 overall. The Hawkettes’ records dropped to 3-5 and 4-6.

Ankeny will play a conference game on Wednesday at Dowling, which was swept by No. 2 Ankeny Centennial on Monday. The Maroons are now 0-6 in the league and 4-6 overall.

“We will go back to work (Tuesday) at practice and take tonight’s performance as another opportunity to grow,” Saladino said.