Jaguars rally past Urbandale for 10-5 win, keep pace with Waukee NW in CIML race

**Ankeny Centennial’s Gracie Anderson takes a pitch during Monday’s game at Urbandale. She had a run-scoring single to help the Jaguars to a 10-5 victory. (Photo by Dan Holm)**

After getting off to a slow start, the Ankeny Centennial softball team scored nine unanswered runs to post a 10-5 victory at Urbandale on Monday.

The second-ranked Jaguars overcame an early 4-1 deficit with five runs in the third inning and four more in the fourth. They extended their winning streak to 11 games, while the struggling J-Hawks suffered their 11th consecutive loss.

“I think we did (overlook them),” said Centennial reliever Peyten Spiegel, who earned the win to remain unbeaten on the season. “We came in thinking we were going to kill them, and we just caught ourselves off guard.”

Spiegel (6-0) replaced starter Kori Lincicum after Urbandale took a 4-1 lead on a two-run single by Sydney Hasson with two outs in the second inning. She immediately fanned Hayley Crowdis to limit the damage.

Ankeny Centennial’s Lauren Bartine swings at a pitch during Monday’s game. She hit a two-run double to cap a five-run outburst in the third inning that gave the Jaguars the lead for good. (Photo by Dan Holm)

The Jaguars then batted around in the third inning against freshman Sophie Romey to take the lead. Mylie Hatfield hit an RBI single with two outs, then Delaney Wyble followed with a two-run single to tie the game.

Two batters later, Lauren Bartine fouled off several pitches before hitting a two-run double to left-center field to cap the outburst.

“I definitely got a pitch I was looking for,” said Bartine. “I tried to foul off everything I could until I finally got my pitch.”

Centennial extended its lead to 9-4 in the fourth on a three-run homer by Jordyn Kennedy, who went 2-for-3 in the win. It was her 12th homer of the season and her seventh in the last six games.

“I’ve never seen her so hot,” Bartine said of Kennedy. “I’m so glad she is, though.”

Ankeny Centennial’s Jordyn Kennedy (middle) celebrates with her teammates after hitting a three-run homer during the fourth inning of Monday’s game. She ranks second in the entire state with 12 homers. (Photo by Dan Holm)

The Jaguars continue to lead the entire state with 47 home runs, nine more than Dallas Center-Grimes. Pleasant Valley set the all-time record of 61 homers in 2024, a mark that Centennial is on pace to shatter midway through the season.

Spiegel did not allow a hit until Makenna Rosonke led off the seventh inning with a single. She then scored on a one-out single by Rylie Pruitt.

Urbandale loaded the bases with two outs before Spiegel struck out Ella Schott to end the game. The sophomore finished with 12 strikeouts over the last 5 1/3 innings.

“I trust my defense behind me, so it’s really easy to throw and I can just come in and throw strikes,” Spiegel said. “I just came in ready to go.”

Ankeny Centennial’s Peyten Spiegel throws a pitch during Monday’s game. She allowed just one earned run on two hits over the last 5 1/3 innings while racking up 12 strikeouts to earn the win. (Photo by Dan Holm)

Gracie Anderson had an RBI single for the Jaguars. Mady Ott also drove in a run.

The win allowed Centennial to keep pace with No. 1 Waukee Northwest in the CIML Conference race. The Wolves edged No. 4 Southeast Polk, 3-2, in nine innings to improve to 11-1 in the league.

The Jaguars are now 10-1 in the conference and 18-1 overall, while Urbandale’s records dropped to 0-12 and 3-14.

“I think we were (overconfident), but that’s just because of everything else,” Bartine said. “I think we did a fantastic job of ending up winning in the end.”

Centennial will travel to Waukee on Wednesday for a conference doubleheader against the No. 13 Warriors, who are 6-5 in the league and 9-6 overall. The Jaguars won an earlier meeting, 6-0, on May 27.