Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Ayana Lindsey was a part of 138 wins during her five-year prep softball career.

The City High senior was a part of conference championship and regional title clinching wins, four state tournament wins and had 70 wins of her own in the pitching circle over the course of a stellar high school career.

For Lindsey and her City High classmates the most fitting win of them all came last week at the Class 5A state tournament.

Lindsey ended her brilliant career with a win last Wednesday when City High defeated Southeast Polk 2-0 in a 5A consolation contest at Harlan Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.

“We all definitely wanted to win that last game and go out on a high note,” Lindsey said. “That game was definitely a good opportunity to do that. We all played together as a team and that really showed.”

The win over Southeast Polk came just one day after City High fell to Ankeny Centennial 2-0 in the 5A quarterfinals but served as the perfect capper for an impressive five-year run for Lindsey and fellow seniors Ella Cook and Carey Koenig.

Lindsey tossed a four-hit shutout and had an RBI triple in the win over the Rams while Cook and Koenig each added hits in the win.

In two state tournament games Lindsey struck out 11 in 11 shutout innings allowing just five hits.

“It was kind of bittersweet,” Lindsey said of the state tournament. “I was really glad to be there but at the same time I was sad that it was coming to an end and being at state really made me realize it would be my last time in a City High uniform.”

Lindsey, Koenig and Cook combined to raise the standard and rewrite the record books at City High.

At the forefront of an impressive rebuild of the program over the past five seasons has been Lindsey.

A three-time first-team all-state selection that is headed to Northwestern this fall, Lindsey leaves City High as one of the best to ever where the uniform.

In her final prep season Lindsey hit .348 with four home runs, 22 RBI, 54 runs scored and 55 stolen bases.

One of the most versatile athletes in the state Lindsey also went 15-4 with a 1.46 ERA and .95 WHIP with 143 strikeouts in 115 innings in the circle.

A career .386 hitter, Lindsey closes her career with 38 home runs, 174 stolen bases, an eye-popping 259 runs scored and 112 RBI.

“Honestly looking at stats I could really care less,” Lindsey said. “I am just glad I got to be a good teammate to everybody. I feel like being a good teammate is the main thing you can do to help the team. Being there for everybody when they need a pickup, I feel that is the my most proud accomplishment is just being a good teammate.”

Lindsey helped City High reach the state tournament three times in the past four seasons after the Little Hawks had previously appeared at state twice in school history.

City High was 88-21 over the past three season after finishing 34-8 this season.

While the departed senior classes leaves a legacy of success behind Lindsey is hopefully they have left even more than that to a talented group of young players on the roster including Lindsey’s younger sister Avy who started at second base for the Little Hawks as an eighth-grader this summer.

“That was probably the highlight of my year,” Lindsey said. “Getting to play middle infield with her was really fun. We were definitely on the same page, we are a lot alike but I am excited to see what she does in the future.”

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