Ankeny Fanatic

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Archives for June 2022

‘JIM’ DANDY: Lacey outduels NW’s Watts; Jaguars tie for league lead with sweep

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Catcher Nick Severson and his teammates on the Ankeny Centennial baseball squad were prepared to face one of the state's top pitchers on Wednesday. Severson hit a go-ahead triple in the fifth inning and the Jaguars went on to beat Anthony Watts and ninth-ranked Waukee Northwest, 5-4, in the first game of a doubleheader at Centennial. Watts had tossed a … [Read more...] about ‘JIM’ DANDY: Lacey outduels NW’s Watts; Jaguars tie for league lead with sweep

Hawkettes split at Ames, move ahead of Centennial and into 3rd place

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One of the oldest cliches in sports is that it's difficult to beat the same team three times. It's even more difficult to beat the same opponent five times. The Ankeny softball team discovered that reality on Wednesday, when the 14th-ranked Hawkettes split a doubleheader at No. 12 Ames. Ankeny posted a 7-2 victory in the opener for its fourth … [Read more...] about Hawkettes split at Ames, move ahead of Centennial and into 3rd place

Hawks rout Ames in 5 innings before Little Cyclones win nightcap to earn split

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After watching his team drop the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday at Ames, Ankeny baseball coach Joe Balvanz tried to look on the bright side. "I wanted two (wins) there tonight, but I will take a split and playing well against a good arm," Balvanz said. "Facing a kid like (Ben) Amador is only going to help us in the postseason." Amador … [Read more...] about Hawks rout Ames in 5 innings before Little Cyclones win nightcap to earn split

‘We just didn’t quite get over the hump’: Jaguars are swept by No. 1 Waukee NW

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team needed just one more big hit to knock off top-ranked Waukee Northwest in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday at Centennial. Unfortunately, the No. 5 Jaguars didn't get it. Northwest held on for a 5-4 victory, then completed a sweep of the season series by winning the nightcap, 13-2, in five innings. "Our … [Read more...] about ‘We just didn’t quite get over the hump’: Jaguars are swept by No. 1 Waukee NW

‘When we play with the lead, we are really tough’: Eagles raise record to 22-0

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The Ankeny Christian Academy baseball team took its perfect record to Principal Park on Wednesday morning. The seventh-ranked Eagles scored two runs in the first inning and two more in the third to beat Class 2A Cardinal (Eldon), 4-0, and improve to 22-0 on the season. "This team has done a great job all year of getting on top early," said ACA coach … [Read more...] about ‘When we play with the lead, we are really tough’: Eagles raise record to 22-0

‘We’re really confident in ourselves’: Jaguars’ winning streak reaches 9 games

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The foundation for the Ankeny Centennial baseball team's recent success has been laid in the mornings on the practice field. Kyle Miller homered twice and the Jaguars completed a sweep of Monday's doubleheader against visiting Fort Dodge with a 10-0 victory in five innings. "We're happy with how we're playing," said Miller, who went 2-for-3 and drove … [Read more...] about ‘We’re really confident in ourselves’: Jaguars’ winning streak reaches 9 games

Hawks hold off Mason City to complete sweep, remain atop league standings

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It wasn't easy, but the Ankeny baseball team held off host Mason City to sweep a doubleheader on Monday and maintain sole possession of first place in the CIML Iowa Conference. The eighth-ranked Hawks scored three runs in the seventh inning to post a 6-3 victory in the opener, then built an early 12-0 lead en route to a 14-10 win in the nightcap that … [Read more...] about Hawks hold off Mason City to complete sweep, remain atop league standings

‘The Dodgers came out ready to play’: No. 4 Fort Dodge tops Jaguars twice

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A big week for the Ankeny Centennial softball team got off to a rough start on Monday. The fifth-ranked Jaguars were swept by No. 4 Fort Dodge in a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader at Centennial. The Dodgers posted a 5-1 victory in the opener, then rolled to a 10-1 win in the nightcap to complete a sweep of the season series. Fort Dodge moved into a … [Read more...] about ‘The Dodgers came out ready to play’: No. 4 Fort Dodge tops Jaguars twice

Hawkettes sweep Mason City, move into 3rd-place tie with Centennial in league

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It might be too late for the Ankeny softball team to contend for the CIML Iowa Conference title. But the 14th-ranked Hawkettes could still finish ahead of their crosstown rival. Ankeny won both games of a doubleheader on Monday at Mason City, 4-0 and 13-0 in four innings, to move into a third-place tie in the league with No. 5 Ankeny Centennial--which … [Read more...] about Hawkettes sweep Mason City, move into 3rd-place tie with Centennial in league

Pezzetti to be inducted into National Coaches Association Hall of Fame

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Ankeny Centennial co-head football coach Jerry Pezzetti will be inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Tuesday night at Prairie Meadows. Pezzetti, Iowa's all-time winningest coach with 435 career victories, will be one of 41 inductees from across the nation in the 2022 Hall of Fame class. "I'm proud to be … [Read more...] about Pezzetti to be inducted into National Coaches Association Hall of Fame

Hawkettes place 5th at Fort Dodge Invite after losing to eventual champ on Friday

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The Ankeny softball team posted a 7-4 victory over Ballard (Huxley) to place fifth in the Fort Dodge Invitational on Saturday. The 14th-ranked Hawkettes won three of four games in the two-day, 16-team tournament. They improved to 16-7 on the season, while Ballard fell to 9-11. "We love this tournament," said Ankeny coach Dave Bingham. "It's really good … [Read more...] about Hawkettes place 5th at Fort Dodge Invite after losing to eventual champ on Friday

Jaguars roll past Davenport North, extend their winning streak to 7 games

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It was a perfect week for the Ankeny Centennial baseball team. The Jaguars extended their winning streak to seven games by defeating Davenport North, 13-3, in six innings in the Tim Heggen Classic on Saturday at Centennial. Centennial used a five-run third inning to take a 6-3 lead. After scoring two runs in the fourth, the Jaguars added five more runs … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll past Davenport North, extend their winning streak to 7 games

Hawks overcome 4-0 deficit, beat Davenport North at Tim Heggen Classic

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The Ankeny baseball team rallied from an early 4-0 deficit to beat Davenport North, 6-4, in the Tim Heggen Classic on Saturday at Ankeny Centennial. After North scored three runs in the top of the second inning to make it 4-0, the 10th-ranked Hawks answered with a run in the bottom of the frame. They scored two in the third and one in the fourth to tie it … [Read more...] about Hawks overcome 4-0 deficit, beat Davenport North at Tim Heggen Classic

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Damin Churchman, Ankeny Centennial baseball

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Junior infielder Damin Churchman has helped the Ankeny Centennial baseball team to a 14-9 record, including a 10-4 mark in the CIML Iowa Conference. He is batting .500 with two home runs, six doubles and 23 RBIs. Churchman hit both of his homers during the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against visiting Marshalltown, when he went 3-for-3 and … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Damin Churchman, Ankeny Centennial baseball

Class 4A substate, 1A district baseball assignments announced by IHSAA

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The Class 4A substate baseball assignments have been announced by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Both Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial might have to defeat a highly-ranked opponent in order to qualify for the state tournament. The 10th-ranked Hawks (13-8) have been placed in Substate 7 along with No. 5 Urbandale (17-8). Des Moines East (8-18), … [Read more...] about Class 4A substate, 1A district baseball assignments announced by IHSAA

Newhard’s unquenchable thirst for goals leads to Gatorade Iowa POY award

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Ankeny star Lucas Newhard has been named the 2021-22 Gatorade Iowa Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Newhard, who led the Hawks to a 19-2 record and an appearance in the Class 3A state tournament, said he did not expect to win the honor. "My reaction when I found out I won was that I was surprised--based on all the good players nominated for this award," … [Read more...] about Newhard’s unquenchable thirst for goals leads to Gatorade Iowa POY award

Lathrop earns first varsity win to finish off Jaguars’ sweep over Marshalltown

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team continues to dominate most of its opponents in the CIML Iowa Conference. The fifth-ranked Jaguars earned their fifth doubleheader sweep of the season on Thursday with a pair of run-rule victories over visiting Marshalltown. They rolled to a 14-2 win in four innings, then completed the sweep with an 11-0 triumph in five … [Read more...] about Lathrop earns first varsity win to finish off Jaguars’ sweep over Marshalltown

Jaguars sweep another foe, have won 6 straight games by a 65-9 margin

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The Ankeny Centennial baseball team remains one of the hottest squads in Class 4A. The Jaguars swept a doubleheader against visiting Marshalltown on Thursday for their third sweep in the last four days. They have won six straight games and seven in a row in CIML Iowa Conference play. "They're playing well," said Centennial coach Mark Hey. "We certainly … [Read more...] about Jaguars sweep another foe, have won 6 straight games by a 65-9 margin