Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Dan Holm

‘Our inexperience hurt us’: Wolves use late rally to complete sweep over Ankeny

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Last Thursday, the Ankeny baseball team rallied for six runs in the seventh inning to earn an improbable 12-8 victory at Southeast Polk in the second game of a doubleheader. On Monday, the Hawks experienced the other side of a dramatic rally. Visiting Waukee Northwest scored four runs in the seventh inning to forge a 6-6 tie, then plated four more in … [Read more...] about ‘Our inexperience hurt us’: Wolves use late rally to complete sweep over Ankeny

‘We’ve just got to tighten up our defense’: Errors prove costly as Hawkettes fall twice

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Ankeny softball pitchers Aubrey Lensmeyer and Kaylyn Miller both had decent outings on the mound Monday against one of the state's best teams. Unfortunately, a lack of timely hits and some costly errors resulted in a pair of losses for the 13th-ranked Hawkettes. No. 2 Waukee Northwest swept both games of a CIML Conference doubleheader on the road, 5-1 … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve just got to tighten up our defense’: Errors prove costly as Hawkettes fall twice

Balashaitis, Martin, Macke, Paoli selected to Class 3A all-state first team by IGCA

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Girls' soccer standouts Maddison Balashaitis and Ava Martin of Ankeny Centennial have been named to the Class 3A all-state first team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association for the second straight year. Ankeny star Alli Macke was also a repeat selection. She was joined on the squad by teammate Ava Paoli. Balashaitis, a senior defender, helped the … [Read more...] about Balashaitis, Martin, Macke, Paoli selected to Class 3A all-state first team by IGCA

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Emmarie Becker, Centennial girls’ soccer

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Junior midfielder Emmarie Becker helped the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team to a 15-4-2 record this season. The Jaguars advanced to the Class 3A semifinals of last week's state tournament before dropping a 2-1 decision to Linn-Mar (Marion) at the Lied Recreation Fields in Ames. Becker scored five goals and had four assists on the season. She scored … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Emmarie Becker, Centennial girls’ soccer

Centennial standouts Balashaitis, Martin named to Class 3A all-tournament team

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Seniors Maddison Balashaitis and Ava Martin of the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team were both named to the Class 3A all-tournament team on Saturday at the Cyclone Sports Complex in Ames. Balashaitis, a defender, was selected to the squad for the second straight year. She scored a goal and also converted a penalty kick in the shootout in the Jaguars' … [Read more...] about Centennial standouts Balashaitis, Martin named to Class 3A all-tournament team

Centennial boys return to Roosevelt, sweep pair of games against Roughriders

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When the Ankeny Centennial baseball team opened the season on May 19 at Des Moines Roosevelt, the Jaguars got off to a good start before the non-conference doubleheader was postponed due to rain. Centennial finished the job on Friday. Play resumed in the top of the fourth inning with the Jaguars holding a 2-0 lead. They went on to post an 8-1 victory … [Read more...] about Centennial boys return to Roosevelt, sweep pair of games against Roughriders

‘To be mentioned alongside her is a great honor!’: Kennedy ties Lindaman’s HR mark

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Jordyn Kennedy helped the Ankeny Centennial softball team to a pair of victories in the Jaguar Invitational on Friday. The junior slugger also made some history. Kennedy went 3-for-3 with a double, two home runs and four RBIs as the third-ranked Jaguars opened the tournament with a 6-3 win over Creston, the No. 15 team in Class 4A. She now has seven … [Read more...] about ‘To be mentioned alongside her is a great honor!’: Kennedy ties Lindaman’s HR mark

Hawks rally for 6 runs in 7th inning to salvage split of twinbill at S.E. Polk

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The Ankeny baseball team was on the verge of being swept on the road Thursday at Southeast Polk. After dropping an 8-0 decision in the first game of a doubleheader, the Hawks fell behind in the nightcap, 7-2, after four innings. But Ankeny refused to go away quietly. A four-run fifth inning cut Southeast Polk's lead to 7-6. After the Rams got a run … [Read more...] about Hawks rally for 6 runs in 7th inning to salvage split of twinbill at S.E. Polk

‘We just had to trust the process’: Ankeny girls beat S.E. Polk to end four-game slide

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It was a much-needed win for the Ankeny softball team. After dropping a 3-2 decision at 11th-ranked Southeast Polk in the opener of a doubleheader on Thursday, the No. 13 Hawkettes ended a four-game losing skid with a 6-4 victory in the nightcap. Ankeny took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, then used a four-run second to break the game open. The Rams … [Read more...] about ‘We just had to trust the process’: Ankeny girls beat S.E. Polk to end four-game slide

‘I’m heartbroken for our team’: Jaguars fall to Linn-Mar on Roberts’ spectacular shot

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team had state championship aspirations in 2025, but the Jaguars' hopes fell just short. It was a deep shot in the 76th minute by Abi Roberts of Linn-Mar (Marion) that ended Centennial’s season on Thursday as the third-ranked Jaguars dropped a 2-1 decision in the Class 3A semifinals at … [Read more...] about ‘I’m heartbroken for our team’: Jaguars fall to Linn-Mar on Roberts’ spectacular shot

‘Nobody thought we’d be here’: Hawks end season with semifinal loss to Valley

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Ankeny senior Landon Benge stood on the field at Mediacom Stadium, his future home as a member of the Drake men's soccer team. His brilliant high school career had just ended a few minutes earlier, short of his ultimate goal. "I am so proud of this team," Benge said as he hugged his teammates after eighth-ranked Ankeny fell to No. 1 Valley, 1-0, in a … [Read more...] about ‘Nobody thought we’d be here’: Hawks end season with semifinal loss to Valley

Jaguars rely on pitching, defense, timely hits to split with No. 7 Waukee NW

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Over the last five games, the Ankeny Centennial baseball team has struggled to score some runs. Fortunately for the Jaguars, a combination of strong pitching performances, solid defense and a few timely hits has allowed them to go 2-3 during that stretch. On Thursday, ninth-ranked Centennial posted a 3-0 victory at No. 7 Waukee Northwest in the first … [Read more...] about Jaguars rely on pitching, defense, timely hits to split with No. 7 Waukee NW

No. 2 Waukee NW blanks Centennial, then No. 3 Jaguars return favor in nightcap

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team rebounded in a big way from its first shutout loss of the season. After dropping a 4-0 decision at second-ranked Waukee Northwest in the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday, the No. 3 Jaguars bounced back with a 9-0 victory in six innings in the nightcap to earn a split. "It was a good night against one of the … [Read more...] about No. 2 Waukee NW blanks Centennial, then No. 3 Jaguars return favor in nightcap

‘We found a way to get it done’: Jaguars earn split vs. S.E. Polk with 10-run inning

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Apparently, no lead is safe against the Ankeny Centennial softball team. The second-ranked Jaguars showed on Wednesday that they are fully capable of overcoming a huge deficit. Trailing 10-3 in the second game of a doubleheader against visiting Southeast Polk, Centennial erupted for 10 runs in the fifth inning and then held on for a 13-12 win, allowing … [Read more...] about ‘We found a way to get it done’: Jaguars earn split vs. S.E. Polk with 10-run inning

Hawks win opener of doubleheader against Urbandale in walk-off fashion

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The Ankeny baseball team extended its winning streak to four games on Wednesday before visiting Urbandale posted a 7-5 victory in the second game to salvage a split of a doubleheader. The Hawks had won the opener, 3-2, in walk-off fashion. They are now 2-4 in the CIML Conference and 4-8 overall, while Urbandale's records are 1-4 and 6-5. "Game 1 was a … [Read more...] about Hawks win opener of doubleheader against Urbandale in walk-off fashion

‘I felt really comfortable on the mound’: Morris tosses gem as Jags salvage split

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After dropping a second consecutive one-run game, the Ankeny Centennial baseball team needed an ace to take the mound for the nightcap of Wednesday's doubleheader against visiting Southeast Polk. The ninth-ranked Jaguars had just the right guy in Will Morris. The junior righthander tossed a two-hitter and had 12 strikeouts to lead Centennial to a 2-1 … [Read more...] about ‘I felt really comfortable on the mound’: Morris tosses gem as Jags salvage split

‘We have to find ways to score’: Hawkettes tumble twice to Urbandale softball team

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The seventh-ranked Ankeny softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader against visiting Urbandale on Wednesday. The J-Hawks rallied from a 5-1 deficit in the second game to complete the sweep with a 10-5 victory. They scored two runs runs in the fourth inning, then used a five-run fifth to take an 8-5 lead. "They're a decent team," Ankeny … [Read more...] about ‘We have to find ways to score’: Hawkettes tumble twice to Urbandale softball team

Becker scores tying goal, then makes huge save as Jaguars top Johnston in PKs

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Emmarie Becker found a new way to help the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team on a rainy Tuesday night. After scoring the tying goal in the 72nd minute, the junior midfielder eventually moved to the goalkeeper position during a shootout and came up with a crucial save as the third-ranked Jaguars defeated No. 6 Johnston, 3-2, in a Class 3A quarterfinal … [Read more...] about Becker scores tying goal, then makes huge save as Jaguars top Johnston in PKs

‘I feel so bad for the girls’: Hawkettes fall to Waukee in PKs in Brown’s final game

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This wasn't the way that Simon Brown wanted to close out his Ankeny girls' soccer coaching tenure. As bad as he felt for himself though, Brown felt even worse for his players. The fifth-ranked Hawkettes lost to No. 4 Waukee, 2-1, in a shootout in a Class 3A quarterfinal on Tuesday at the rain-soaked Lied Recreation Fields in Ames. They finished their … [Read more...] about ‘I feel so bad for the girls’: Hawkettes fall to Waukee in PKs in Brown’s final game