Despite playing just one game in the previous eight days, the Ankeny Centennial softball team had no trouble picking up right where it left off.
The second-ranked Jaguars swept a doubleheader against visiting Urbandale on Monday and clinched at least a share of the CIML Conference title in the process, thanks to No. 1 Waukee Northwest’s 4-3 loss at No. 6 Southeast Polk in the second game of a twinbill.
“Tonight was a great night to honor our nine seniors!” said Centennial coach Brett Delaney. “It is truly an honor to have the opportunity to coach such an amazing group of girls!”
After rolling to a 10-1 win in five innings in the opener, Centennial completed the sweep with a 9-5 triumph. The Jaguars rallied for six runs in the sixth inning to overcome a 5-3 deficit.
It marked the fifth time in the last 10 games that Delaney’s team has used a late rally to win.
“We left a lot of runners on (base) early on, but late in the game our big comeback was led by our seniors!” Delaney said. “Tonight was all about them and their dedication to this program, their teammates, and the great game of softball!”
The Jaguars closed the gap to 5-4 when Lauren Sandholm was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Kori Lincicum later hit an RBI single with two outs to tie it, then Ava Faber singled to drive in the go-ahead run.
Jordyn Kennedy followed with a three-run triple to cap the outburst, just missing a grand slam. Kennedy tried to stretch it into an inside-the-park homer, but was called out on a close play at the plate.
Lincicum had a home run earlier in the game, her 14th of the season. She went 4-for-5 and drove in three runs after going 3-for-4 with two RBIs in the first game, raising her average to .496.
Mady Ott went 2-for-3 and scored a pair of runs. Faber and Kennedy each went 2-for-4 as the J-Hawks suffered their eighth straight loss.
Sandholm (9-0) earned the victory in the circle. She allowed one earned run on four hits and had 11 strikeouts over the final 4 1/3 innings after replacing starter Ashley Sterling.
In the first game, Centennial jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning and cruised to the win. Shortstop Cami Starr went 3-for-3 and knocked in a run for the Jaguars, who had not played since Wednesday’s game against Dowling Catholic.
“We’ve really been coming in and focusing on the little things and trying to be as game-like as we can in practice,” Starr said. “There’s not much we can do when the field is wet. It’s hard (to get much done), but I think we really just trust each other and that’s what we did today. We knew that whatever level (Urbandale was) playing at, we still had to play our game.”
Ott went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, while Kennedy also drove in two runs with a pair of bases-loaded walks. Faber went 2-for-3.
Peyten Spiegel (15-0) allowed no runs on two hits over the first three innings to earn the win. She struck out seven consecutive batters during one stretch.
“I think I have more control of the ball and I do have a couple different pitches than I had last year, and I worked hard over the winter to make me the pitcher that I am now,” Spiegel said.
Spiegel has now recorded 101 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings. She lowered her ERA to 0.76, which ranks fifth in the entire state.
“It’s really fun playing behind Peyten with her energy,” Starr said. “I’m able to trust my game more with her pitching in the circle.”
Sandholm had five more strikeouts over the final two innings. She gave up a solo homer in the fourth to Tatum Johnson, her ninth of the year.
The Jaguars improved to 20-2 in the CIML Conference and 34-2 overall. Urbandale’s records dropped to 2-22 and 6-27.
Centennial will play a non-conference game on Tuesday at No. 4 Dallas Center-Grimes (26-4). The Mustangs are led by junior Addie Abens, who leads Class 5A and ranks third in the state with 20 home runs.
