A pair of third inning home runs lifted ninth ranked Ankeny past top ranked and unbeaten Bettendorf 4-1 in a class 4A quarterfinal. Aly Cappaert drilled a two run homer to left center and two batters later Erica Kirgan cleared the fence in left as the Hawkettes took a 3-1 lead.
Kirgan says they were nervous as Bettendorf was undefeated, but she says she waited on the change-up and drove it out of the park.
Cappaert says the long ball has been carrying the Hawkettes as of late. Kirgan says “it’s crazy” as a walk off home run in the substate propelled them and the homers in this game have them on a roll.
Shayla Starkenburg gave up only six hits and kept a powerful Bettendorf lineup off balance with her changeup. Bettendorf coach Mark Lewis says their scouting report didn’t show Starkenburg had a good change-up and it took them awhile to adjust.
He feels his team will bounce back and play well in the consolation bracket despite suffering its first loss. Lewis said all along they weren’t going to make one game any defining moment.