A talented group of seniors will lead the way this season for the Ankeny baseball team.
A trio of all-conference players–catcher Max Watson, pitcher Alex Griess and outfielder Ben Sandvig–is back for the Hawks, along with some other key returnees.
“The practices have been great this spring,” said Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz. “Our seniors have done a tremendous job leading by example and helping some of the younger players in the program get up to speed. The past three weeks we’ve had great energy at practice, and I feel confident they will be ready to compete when we open with a tough opponent in (preseason No. 6) Pleasant Valley on Wednesday.”
Watson batted .330 with two triples and 26 RBIs last year. He helped the Hawks to a 23-14 record and a second consecutive CIML Iowa Conference title.
Griess compiled a 7-1 mark with a 3.29 ERA and 48 strikeouts. He led the team in victories.
Griess, who joined Watson on the Iowa Conference second team, will again be counted upon to shoulder a heavy pitching load. He made nine starts and tossed a team-high 49 innings as a junior.
Sandvig batted .312 with seven doubles and 15 RBIs. The NIACC recruit received all-conference honorable mention.
Seniors Brock Adamson, Carson Agan and Reid Johnson are among the team’s other returnees.
Adamson, a pitcher, went 2-4 with a 2.12 ERA. He limited opposing batters to a .217 average.
Agan, a third baseman, batted .288 with four doubles and 14 RBIs. He will join Adamson and Watson at Ellsworth Community College next year.
Johnson, an outfielder, batted .225 with six doubles and 20 RBIs. He will play football at Benedictine College in the fall.
The Hawks will have to replace shortstop Jamison Patton, who was named to the Class 4A all-state second team by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association after batting .405 with five homers and 45 RBIs as a junior. The Iowa State football recruit will head to Ames immediately after graduating.
“He decided before January that he wouldn’t be playing baseball,” Balvanz said. “But he’s such a tremendous young man. I wish him all the very best. He’s one of the best athletes I’ve ever had the privilege to coach.”
Although his team has lost one Division I athlete, Balvanz will welcome another one back to his lineup. Junior Jack Clevidence, who has already committed to Evansville as a two-way player, played in just 17 games a year ago before suffering a season-ending injury.
Clevidence batted .346 with four doubles and 14 RBIs. On the mound, he posted a 2-0 record with a 4.34 ERA.
“With our returning starters and talented younger players looking to make an impact at the varsity level this summer, I’m really excited to see how this team develops as the season progresses,” Balvanz said. “We are going to see some of the best teams from all over the state. It will be a challenge for sure, but I think our guys are up for the task.”
Ankeny is now part of the nine-team CIML Conference, which boasts four of the top five teams in the Class 4A preseason rankings by the Baseball Coaches Association, led by No. 1 Dowling Catholic. Several teams, including defending state champion Johnston, could challenge for the crown.
The Hawks are hoping to be one of them.
“We will need to pitch well, play sound fundamental defense, and keep our experienced starters healthy,” Balvanz said. “The new CIML doesn’t have any nights off. We will have to be mature enough to handle the ups and downs that the game throws at you. As always, our goal is to be playing our best ball as we head toward the month of July. We have a couple weeks where we are playing every day.
“It should be an exciting challenge for this team and coaching staff. We are looking forward to it,” he added.
