Waukee Northwest Wins Back-to-Back Iowa Softball State Title
FORT DODGE — Waukee Northwest’s softball dynasty continues. The top-seeded Wolves defeated No. 2 Ankeny Centennial 3-1 on Friday, July 24, to claim the Class 5A state championship at Rogers Sports Complex. It marks the program’s second consecutive title and third since the school opened in 2021.
“I’m just proud of the girls,” said Wolves coach Carrie Eby. “They’ve worked hard all offseason, and it’s just fun to see them come through at the end. I knew it was going to be a battle all the way through. Centennial is a strong-hitting team, but our girls were ready to go from the beginning.”
Waukee Northwest finished the season 40-4. Ankeny Centennial ended at 41-4. The two teams met three times during the regular season, with the Wolves winning two of those matchups. The Jaguars took the third game by two runs, setting the stage for a dramatic championship rematch.
How the Wolves Won
Ankeny Centennial struck first. Leadoff hitter Kori Lincicum walked, advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Ava Faber, and scored on a single by Jordyn Kennedy in the top of the first inning. Northwest went three-up, three-down in the bottom of the first and failed to score in the second.
But Wolves star pitcher Sophia Schlader settled in. She retired the next six Centennial batters in order, giving her offense time to respond. In the bottom of the third, Northwest tied the game. Maggie Allen walked, Shay Davis sacrificed her to second, and Alayna Schulte drove in the run with a base hit.
The score stayed 1-1 through the fourth and fifth innings. Centennial put two runners on in the top of the sixth but could not push across the go-ahead run.
Leinen’s Game-Changing Homer
In the bottom of the sixth, Schulte singled and stole second. That brought junior third baseman Hazel Leinen to the plate. Leinen had hit only one home run all season entering the game. She crushed the second pitch she saw over the fence for a two-run homer, giving Northwest a 3-1 lead.
“It just felt so good off the bat,” Leinen said. “I wasn’t even thinking about hitting it over the fence. I was just trying to do something good for the team, just try and move the runners, try and do something. I wasn’t even thinking about hitting a home run. I didn’t even know I had that in me. I just went and hit the ball, and it felt so good.”
Schlader pitched all seven innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out nine. She walked one batter. For Ankeny Centennial, Lauren Sandholm pitched nearly six innings, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out four. Peyten Spiegel recorded one strikeout and allowed one hit in two-thirds of an inning.
A Historic Year for Northwest Athletics
The softball title caps a remarkable 2025-26 academic year for Waukee Northwest girls sports. The Wolves won state championships in seven sports: cross country, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling.
“It feels amazing,” Leinen said about bringing another girls title back to Northwest. “All girls sports have been doing amazing...Northwest, we’re just doing it right now.”
The victory also extends Northwest’s softball dominance. The program has now won three state titles in just five years since the school opened. With a young core returning, the Wolves look poised to contend for more championships in the seasons ahead.
“It’s a testament to the hard work our girls put in year-round,” Eby said. “They play for each other, and that’s what makes this team special.”