The 2026 Ankeny Christian baseball team made history by becoming the program’s first group ever to make it to the state tournament.
But the Eagles’ search for their first state title will have to wait for at least another year.
Ankeny Christian lost its state quarterfinal game against Newman Catholic, 9-4, on Monday, July 20. The Eagles end their historic campaign with a 29-6 record.
Ankeny Christian got off to a fast start, scoring two runs in the second frame to take a 2-0 lead, but the Knights kept chipping away and eventually broke through.
Newman Catholic answered with one run in the third frame to cut its deficit to 2-1. But after Ankeny Christian added one more run in the third, the Knights had a big inning and posted four runs in the bottom half to take a 5-3 lead. It was an advantage Newman Catholic would not let go of for the remainder of the game.
Lucas Erickson tossed the first four frames on the hill, giving up just one hit and one earned run to go along with three strikeouts and seven walks. Tyler Davis came in for the final two innings in relief and gave up four hits and three earned runs with one strikeout and two walks. In total, Newman Catholic scored five unearned runs.
At the plate, Ankeny Christian had nine hits on the day. Seven different players got at least one hit and two, Lucas Herbel and Braley Miller, each posted two on the day.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ankeny Christian falls to Newman Catholic in state baseball tournament
Reporting by Will Kennedy, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Will Kennedy, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
