After scoring a total of just three runs in its last three games, the Ankeny Centennial baseball team needs to find an offensive spark.
However, Centennial coach Mark Hey said he isn’t worried about the Jaguars, who dropped both ends of a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday at fourth-ranked Pleasant Valley, 2-1 and 5-1.
“We’ve got a tough schedule,” said Hey, whose team was coming off a 7-1 loss at No. 6 Urbandale on Monday. “You always want to win, but I was proud of the way our guys battled today. We’re not pushing the panic button by any means. Sometimes, you just have to tip your hat to the pitcher. The effort from our guys was certainly there. We showed a lot of hustle and fire, and I think we’ll be fine.”
Three Pleasant Valley pitchers combined on a six-hitter in the opener. Cade Newman went 2-for-3 with a double and was knocked in by Owen Gasperi in the second inning, giving Centennial a 1-0 lead.
The Spartans tied the game in the fourth and scored the go-ahead run in the fifth. Will Frederiksen and Hayden Richards each had an RBI.
Jack Loutsch (1-1) took the loss despite tossing a complete game. He allowed no earned runs on four hits in a 74-pitch outing.
“Jack threw extremely well,” Hey said. “It was really great to see. He got ahead of hitters and mixed his pitches really well. I thought he took a huge step today, and I’m real proud of the way he worked.”
The Spartans (16-3) used a three-run second inning to win the nightcap. Richards doubled and had three RBIs, while Frederiksen went 2-for-2 with a double and drove in a run.
Frederiksen also got the win on the mound. He allowed just two hits over six scoreless innings and recorded nine strikeouts.
“Both of the kids that threw for them hit their spots and mixed things up really well,” Hey said. “It was kind of a tough night to hit. They really threw some nice innings.”
Jacob Battershell went 2-for-2 in the second game. Nolan Powell drove in the lone run for the Jaguars (10-9).
Tyler Majeski (0-1) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on five hits over the first 2 2/3 innings. Owen Lorenz gave up one earned run on two hits over the final 3 1/3 innings.
“Lorenz came in and gave us some good innings,” Hey said. “He kept us in the ball game, so I was really happy with him as well.”
Centennial will travel to Waukee on Wednesday for a CIML Conference doubleheader against the No. 7 Warriors, who are 14-5 overall and tied for the league lead with Urbandale at 8-3.