The Ankeny Intermediate All Stars are heading to California for the Little League World Series after winning the Central Regional title in Kalamazoo, Mich. The team of 13 year olds punched its ticket to the World Series with a 6-2 victory over Indiana in the Central Regional championship game on Wednesday. "We've got some pretty special players," said … [Read more...] about Ankeny Intermediate All Stars advance to Little League World Series
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Chloe Peck, Ankeny Centennial softball
Chloe Peck of the Ankeny Centennial softball team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. Peck helped the Jaguars to a 25-16 record. It was the team's best season since the split into two high schools. The junior outfielder played in 30 games and started six times. She batted .313 with two doubles and scored 19 runs. … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Chloe Peck, Ankeny Centennial softball
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Seth Harpenau, Ankeny baseball
Senior Seth Harpenau helped the Ankeny baseball team to a 21-17 record. The Hawks finished their season with a 6-0 loss at second-ranked Urbandale in a Class 4A substate final on Wednesday. Harpenau batted .304 with seven doubles, one triple and 16 RBIs. He received all-conference honorable mention for the second straight year. Here is some inside info … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Seth Harpenau, Ankeny baseball
Ankeny’s Maifeld, Centennial’s Vermeer named to Central Conference first team
Heading into the 2018 baseball season, Ankeny senior Jayden Maifeld was already established as one of the state's top pitchers. Sophomore Ryan Vermeer of Ankeny Centennial didn't have a reputation to match Maifeld's, but he quickly developed into one of the CIML's top catchers. Both Maifeld and Vermeer have been named to the CIML Central Conference … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Maifeld, Centennial’s Vermeer named to Central Conference first team
Ankeny’s Adamson to play soccer at Grand View
One of the defensive standouts on the Ankeny girls' soccer team has made her college plans. Senior-to-be Saige Adamson announced earlier this week via Twitter that she'll be staying close to home. "I'm very blessed and excited to announce my commitment to Grand View University to continue my education and play soccer. I'm excited to see what the future … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Adamson to play soccer at Grand View
Hard-throwing Patzner shuts down Hawks in substate final
Wednesday's substate baseball final between unranked Ankeny and No. 2 Urbandale was a classic David vs. Goliath matchup. This time, Goliath prevailed. Luke Patzner tossed a two-hitter and had 10 strikeouts to lead the host J-Hawks to a 6-0 victory in a Class 4A Substate 7 final. The loss ended a seven-game winning streak for Ankeny, which finished the … [Read more...] about Hard-throwing Patzner shuts down Hawks in substate final
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Alex Greiner, Ankeny Centennial baseball
Alex Greiner of the Ankeny Centennial baseball team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. Greiner helped the Jaguars to a 21-19 record this season. The sophomore lefthander compiled a 4-1 mark on the mound with a 1.78 ERA. Greiner got the start in Monday's Class 4A substate semifinal at 10th-ranked Valley. He received a … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Alex Greiner, Ankeny Centennial baseball
Jaguars’ late rally falls short; Valley advances to substate final
A dramatic rally in the seventh inning put the Ankeny Centennial baseball team in position to pull off an upset at 10th-ranked Valley on Monday. However, the Jaguars couldn't complete the comeback. Centennial scored two runs with two outs to tie the game before Valley's Jevon Mason hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the inning to give the Tigers a … [Read more...] about Jaguars’ late rally falls short; Valley advances to substate final
Seth Harpenau’s walk-off hit allows Hawks to survive and advance
Seth Harpenau wasn't trying to be a hero. The Ankeny senior was simply trying to drive in the tying run during Monday's Class 4A substate baseball semifinal against visiting Des Moines East. He ended up getting a walk-off hit. Harpenau stroked a two-run single into right field to give the Hawks a thrilling 5-4 victory that moved them one step closer … [Read more...] about Seth Harpenau’s walk-off hit allows Hawks to survive and advance
Iowa Rush 18U boys’ team captures national championship
The Iowa Rush Soccer Club made some history on Sunday in the U.S. Youth Soccer Presidents Cup at Westfield, Ind. The Ankeny-based club advanced two teams to the finals of their respective divisions, the 18U boys' team and the 14U girls' squad. The 18U boys' team posted a 5-1 victory over Barcelona of Arizona to become the first Iowa program to win a U.S. … [Read more...] about Iowa Rush 18U boys’ team captures national championship
Centennial’s Brown named to United Soccer Coaches all-American team
Ankeny Centennial's Olivia Brown completed her high school soccer career last month. The postseason awards keep rolling in, though, for the Jaguars' senior defender. Brown has been named to the United Soccer Coaches all-American team for the winter and spring seasons during the 2017-18 school year. A total of 52 players from across the country received … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Brown named to United Soccer Coaches all-American team
Hawks, Jaguars look to continue postseason run on Monday
Both Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial will face familiar foes in the Class 4A substate baseball semifinals on Monday night. The Hawks (20-16) will host Des Moines East (17-22) in Substate 7, while the Jaguars (21-18) will play at 10th-ranked Valley (26-15) in a Substate 2 matchup. Both games begin at 7 p.m. Ankeny, which is riding a six-game winning … [Read more...] about Hawks, Jaguars look to continue postseason run on Monday
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Emily Bogle, Ankeny softball
Senior Emily Bogle helped the Ankeny softball team to a 28-13 record. The ninth-ranked Hawkettes ended their season with a 4-0 loss at No. 5 Valley in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday. Bogle batted .258 with four doubles and eight RBIs. She also stole eight bases. Here is some inside info on Bogle: Congratulations on a great season. What was the … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Emily Bogle, Ankeny softball
Jaguars hold off Mason City for 3-2 victory in postseason opener
With a 3-0 lead after six innings, the Ankeny Centennial baseball team appeared to be on its way to a stress-free victory over visiting Mason City in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal on Friday. Then, things started to get interesting. Mason City's Nate Lassise led off the top of the seventh with a double. After Bryce Butler grounded out, Centennial … [Read more...] about Jaguars hold off Mason City for 3-2 victory in postseason opener
Maifeld hurls Hawks past Newton in substate quarterfinal
When the Newton baseball team scored an unearned run in the first inning of Friday's Class 4A substate quarterfinal at Ankeny, it gave the Cardinals some early momentum against one of the state's best pitchers. "I was a little worried before the game--I don't know why," said Ankeny senior righthander Jayden Maifeld. "And then when that happened, I … [Read more...] about Maifeld hurls Hawks past Newton in substate quarterfinal
Centennial game moved up to 5 p.m.; Ankeny will play at 7 p.m.
Thanks to a threat of rain, fans of the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial baseball teams won't have to choose which postseason game to attend on Friday night. They'll be able to watch both the Hawks and the Jaguars. Ankeny (19-16) will host Newton (11-20) in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal at 7 p.m., while Centennial (20-18) will host Mason City (18-21) in a … [Read more...] about Centennial game moved up to 5 p.m.; Ankeny will play at 7 p.m.
Ankeny wrestlers headed to Cadet and Junior National Championships
Four wrestlers from Ankeny will be competing in the 2018 Cadet and Junior National Championships in Fargo, N.D., beginning on Saturday. It is the premiere youth tournament in the United States. Trever Anderson, a freshman-to-be at Ankeny High School, has qualified in the Cadet Division along with Caleb Rathjen, an incoming sophomore at … [Read more...] about Ankeny wrestlers headed to Cadet and Junior National Championships
Homers by Brecht, Agan power Hawks past Gilbert in regular-season finale
The Ankeny baseball team will take a five-game winning streak into postseason play after posting a 10-4 victory at Gilbert in its regular-season finale on Tuesday. The Hawks took a 4-0 lead in the first inning, then added two runs in the third, three in the fourth and one more in the fifth. They pounded out 12 hits off three Gilbert pitchers, five of them … [Read more...] about Homers by Brecht, Agan power Hawks past Gilbert in regular-season finale
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Garrett Stiles, Ankeny baseball
Garrett Stiles of the Ankeny baseball team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. Stiles is batting .172 with one double and three RBIs. He hit a two-run single in the sixth inning to give the Hawks a 3-2 victory at then-No. 9 Southeast Polk on June 4. Stiles has helped Ankeny to a 19-16 record. The Hawks will host Newton in a … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Garrett Stiles, Ankeny baseball
Stalzer shuts down Hawkettes, leads Valley to state tourney berth
The Ankeny softball team picked a bad time to have its worst offensive showing of the season. Valley's Claire Stalzer tossed a one-hitter and had 10 strikeouts to lead the fifth-ranked Tigers to a 4-0 victory over visiting Ankeny in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday. The No. 9 Hawkettes, who finished the season with a 28-13 record, had been averaging … [Read more...] about Stalzer shuts down Hawkettes, leads Valley to state tourney berth