Top-ranked Ankeny punched its second consecutive ticket to the state title game with a 4-0 shutout of No. 9 Iowa City West Thursday night in a Class 5A semifinal at Rogers Park.
Kendyl Lindaman, an eighth-grader, went 2-for-4 with a long ball and drove in all four runs for the Hawkettes (38-6 overall). Lindaman's deep blast was her third of the tournament and 12th of the season.
University of Iowa recruit Shayla Starkenburg (30-0) remained unbeaten in the circle for Ankeny, surrendering just two hits with no walks and 11 strikeouts.
Ankeny will now clash with sixth-ranked Des Moines East (33-5) this evening at 7 p.m. on Diamond 1 in a rematch of last year's 4A championship contest.
Lauren Larson and Michaela Recker each delivered singles for the Women of Troy (37-7).
West, which is making its first state bid in school history, will play for third against Pleasant Valley (33-7) tonight at 5:30 p.m. on Diamond 2.
Fact Box
ANKENY 4,
IOWA CITY WEST 0
Ankeny 002 000 2-4 6 1
Iowa City West 000 000 0-0 2 0
Shayla Starkenburg (W, 30-0; 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 11 K) and Chloe Stinman; Mackenzie Laux (L, 19-5; 7 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 7 K) and Michaela Recker. 2B-A: Aly Cappaert. HR-A: Kendyl Lindaman. MH-A: Lindaman (2). SH-A: Ashlie Chambers, ICW; Morgan Ryan, Mikaela Morgan. SB-A: Reilli Dhabalt; ICW: Brianna Sturtz. LOB-A: 9; ICW: 3.