HAWKS SURPASS TIGERS IN SEMIS

Chad Norris went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored to lead top-seeded Ankeny to a 8-4 victory over fifth-seeded West Des Moines Valley in the 4A semifinals at Principal Park on Friday night.

Ankeny batted around the order to produce a five-hit, five-run second inning. Cody Olson lined a single to right that scored Tyler Engelhardt for the game’s first run. Three batters later with the bases loaded, Chad Norris belted a three-run triple and later scored on a single off the bat of Tanner Buenting.

The Hawks added one run in the third inning after loading the bases for the second time. Brent Jones hit a groundball to third baseman Jake Pauley, who fired too low for catcher Jeff Pullen to handle allowing Ross Larson to score.

Ankeny scored another in the fourth on Matt Johnson’s RBI-single up the middle scoring Joel Lanning.

Valley got on the board with two runs in the fourth inning. Ben Miller doubled in the gap in right-center to score Connor Sorge for the Tigers’ first run. Miller would come around to score on Jake Plath’s single in the following at-bat.

The Tigers added two more runs in their final at-bat on a two-run single off the bat of Brody Baumann, but the Tigers were unable to complete the comeback.

Valley committed five errors in the contest.

Ankeny starter Keaton McKinney (7-0) allowed all four runs on 10 hits, walked two and struck out six in a complete game to earn the win. Valley starter Nate Whitham (8-2) allowed five runs on five hits to suffer the loss.

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