The Ankeny softball team returns several starters from last year’s squad, but the Hawkettes will have to replace their top two pitchers.
Aubrey Lensmeyer and Kaylyn Miller both graduated after helping the team to a 13-27 record in its first season under coach Sarah Saladino. Those two combined to pitch all but 14 of the 250 2/3 innings that the Hawkettes played in 2025.
Lensmeyer posted a 10-13 mark with a 3.37 ERA while also batting .239 with 12 doubles and 21 RBIs. She was named to the Class 5A all-state third team and is now playing at South Dakota.
Miller, meanwhile, went 3-12 with a 4.91 ERA while batting .224 with seven doubles and 18 RBIs. The two-time all-conference honorable mention pick is now playing for Coe College.
“We will have multiple athletes that will get opportunities on the mound and will range in grade level,” said Saladino. “This will be a new experience for the pitchers at the varsity level, but the staff is working on building confidence in each pitcher to carry over to the mound. Each opportunity on the mound for each pitcher will be to build strength, show growth, and gain experience while being competitive. They will have a solid defense behind them, and we as a staff are stressing the importance of letting the defense work.”
Six players who earned all-conference honors are back this season. Leading the way is sophomore outfielder Morgan Fisher, who was selected to the CIML Conference third team as a freshman.
Fisher batted a team-high .326 with two doubles, a triple and four RBIs. She scored 14 runs and led the team with 10 stolen bases.
Ankeny will open its season on Wednesday with a non-conference game at North Polk, but Fisher won’t join the Hawkettes’ lineup until after this weekend. The speedster is also a member of the Ankeny girls’ track team and will be competing in the Class 4A state meet Thursday through Saturday at Drake Stadium.
Senior outfielder Avery Nelson is among the other returnees. She is a three-time all-conference honorable mention selection.
Nelson batted .279 with four doubles, a triple and 10 RBIs as a junior, when she also had eight steals and scored a team-high 19 runs. She has committed to play for Iowa Western Community College.
Sophomores Brylee Bach, Tenley Heidemann and Sarah Munger are also back along with freshman Emerson Hutchins. They also earned all-conference honorable mention.
Heidemann, an infielder, batted .202 with eight doubles, a triple and 20 RBIs. She led the team with four home runs.
Bach batted .291 with four doubles and three RBIs, while Munger batted .263 with two homers, six doubles and 10 RBIs. They will both see some action in the outfield.
Hutchins, a first baseman, was primarily used on defense a year ago, when she started 21 times.
“The first week of practice went very well!” Saladino said. “We have athletes from all grade levels up on the varsity level and looking forward to the growing opportunities this season in each athlete. The energy and excitement is there, and the leadership is strong by the upperclassmen.”
Ankeny has been strengthened by the return of senior Kensi Arringdale, who focused on club ball last year after splitting her time between club and school ball as a sophomore in 2024, when she played in 21 games for the Hawkettes. She batted .500 with six doubles, 19 RBIs and a team-high six homers despite playing only half the season.
Arringdale, who received all-conference honorable mention, will play for Mississippi State in the fall.
“We are excited for all the new additions we have to the program this year!” Saladino said. “We know the pitchers will get hit and the defense will defend, while the offense will produce. We are excited to get after it this season and continue to ‘Set the Standard.’”
