Hazel Leinen hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning to lift the top-ranked Waukee Northwest softball team to a 3-1 victory over No. 2 Ankeny Centennial in the Class 5A championship game on Friday night at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge.
Sophomore Sophia Schlader tossed a two-hitter and had nine strikeouts as the Wolves (40-4) defended their title and claimed their third crown in five seasons. Schlader (29-0) was named the captain of the all-tournament team for the second straight year.
“Sophia had her stuff tonight,” said Centennial coach Brett Delaney, whose team finished with a 41-4 record. “We had a good game plan going in, and we got that run early. I knew it was probably going to take more than one run to win that game, but ultimately it is what it is.”
Jordyn Kennedy had both hits for Centennial, including an RBI single in the first inning. But the Jaguars were held scoreless the rest of the way, leaving five runners on base.
Lauren Sandholm (12-1) suffered her first loss of the season. She allowed three earned runs on five hits and had four strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.
Sandholm was replaced by Peyten Spiegel after Leinen blasted her second homer of the year. Leinen had just one home run in 375 previous varsity at-bats.
“When you face a team like that, every batter is going to be a battle. That’s the mindset you have to have,” Sandholm said. “That pitch wasn’t anything special, but we can still make other plays and can still execute other pitches. I just missed that one.”
Centennial senior Mady Ott was named to the all-tournament team for the third time in four seasons. She was joined on the squad by teammates Mylie Hatfield, Kori Lincicum and Spiegel.
“I’m just really grateful to be in this game, no matter the outcome,” Ott said. “This is where we wanted to be.”
We will have much more coverage of the championship game coming later today.
