Senior Eli Starr has been one of the most consistent starting pitchers this season for the Ankeny Centennial baseball team.
On Wednesday, Starr contributed with his bat as well.
The Lake Land College (Ill.) recruit went 2-for-3 and drove in three runs to help his own cause on the mound, where he allowed just two earned runs on five hits over the first six innings as the Jaguars posted a 6-2 victory over visiting Dowling Catholic.
“It felt great to get back in the box,” said Starr. “All year I have felt so confident in the box and have been seeing the ball well, so it was good to get back in the box and see that continue.”
Starr also recorded eight strikeouts while lowering his ERA to 3.57.
“When it’s hot like this, it’s harder to pitch,” said Centennial coach Mark Hey. “But (Starr) just kind of grinded it out and threw a great game. Sometimes seniors really step up as their last season comes down to the end, and he’s certainly doing that.”
Starr (4-2) has made six starts on the bump, tying him with Brekken Miller for the team lead. But he has seen only limited action in the field and at the plate due to an injury.
Starr entered Wednesday’s game with just 34 at-bats on the season. He is now batting .378 with one homer and eight RBIs.
“We’re slowly trying to work him back in,” Hey said. “He’s coming off a hamstring injury, and those things are always tricky. It’s good to get his bat back in the lineup. He’s just now getting back to where he can run a little bit.”
Starr is one of several good options for Hey to get the ball for a postseason start on the mound.
“We have a very deep staff and have many options, but I would love nothing more than to be the guy on the mound in the biggest games,” Starr said. “I feel as if I am able to grit out games even without my best stuff. I want nothing more than to see this team to be the first team in program history to make state.”
Centennial used a five-run fourth inning to break a 1-1 tie. The Maroons got a run back in the fifth, and Starr then departed an inning later after throwing 103 pitches.
Owen Lorenz came in and got the final three outs on just 12 pitches.
Will Nesler and Will Morris each doubled and knocked in a run for the Jaguars, who improved to 11-9 in the CIML Conference and 18-14 overall. Dowling suffered its ninth straight loss, dropping its records to 3-17 and 7-23.
Enzo Martin doubled and drove in both of the Maroons’ runs. He was also the losing pitcher, giving up four earned runs on six hits over the first five innings.
“The kids rebounded really well tonight after a tough loss (to Fort Dodge on Tuesday),” Hey said.
Centennial will host a conference doubleheader on Thursday against 10th-ranked Valley, which is 11-9 in the league and 19-14 overall after dropping a 5-1 decision at Southeast Polk on Wednesday. The two teams are part of a five-way battle for third place in the conference that also includes the Rams, Waukee Northwest and Urbandale.
The Jaguars rolled to a 10-1 win at Valley on June 11. They may have to return to Valley on July 13 to face the Tigers for a fourth time in a Class 4A substate semifinal if both teams win their quarterfinal games in Substate 4.
