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Hawks

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

‘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

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

‘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

‘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

‘They deserved it’: Hawks oust Roosevelt, will play No. 1 Valley in Class 4A semifinals

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) For the first time since the 2018 season, the Ankeny boys' soccer team is heading to the state tournament semifinals. The eighth-ranked Hawks got a pair of goals from senior Landon Benge and another from junior Cal Wahlberg to post a 3-1 victory over No. 2 Des Moines Roosevelt in a Class 4A quarterfinal on Monday at Mediacom … [Read more...] about ‘They deserved it’: Hawks oust Roosevelt, will play No. 1 Valley in Class 4A semifinals

‘That’s what you live for’: Vos’ walk-off hit gives Ankeny boys 2-1 win over Jaguars

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A clutch hit from senior Kinnick Vos finally ended a pitchers' duel at the Ankeny baseball field. Vos hit a walk-off single with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Hawks a 2-1 victory over crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial on Monday. "That was awesome," said Voss. "That's what you live for. That was a blast." Pinch-hitter Lennon … [Read more...] about ‘That’s what you live for’: Vos’ walk-off hit gives Ankeny boys 2-1 win over Jaguars

Centennial girls pound 5 home runs, romp to 12-0 rivalry victory over Hawkettes

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After teammates Jordyn Kennedy and Mady Ott connected for back-to-back roundtrippers during the third inning of Monday's softball game at Ankeny, Ankeny Centennial junior Kori Lincicum felt some pressure to keep the home run party going. "I was like, 'Uh oh,'" Lincicum said. "They put a big window out there for me. But I just tried to make contact. I … [Read more...] about Centennial girls pound 5 home runs, romp to 12-0 rivalry victory over Hawkettes

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Cal Wahlberg, Ankeny boys’ soccer

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Junior midfielder Cal Wahlberg scored the golden goal in overtime to give the eighth-ranked Ankeny boys' soccer team a 3-2 victory over No. 10 Des Moines Lincoln in a Class 4A substate final on Thursday at Ankeny. It was his seventh goal of the season. Wahlberg has helped Ankeny to an 11-5-2 record and a second consecutive trip to the state tournament. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Cal Wahlberg, Ankeny boys’ soccer

‘It was the perfect way to end our careers’: Ankeny star goes out in style with father

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It was a storybook ending for Ankeny tennis standout Kira Smith. The top-seeded senior posted a 6-1, 6-2 victory over No. 2 Sescie Haan of Clinton to capture the Class 2A singles title at the girls' state tournament on Saturday in Iowa City. She missed her high school graduation to become the city of Ankeny's first-ever state tennis champion. "I can’t … [Read more...] about ‘It was the perfect way to end our careers’: Ankeny star goes out in style with father

Hawks use pair of 5-run innings to sweep doubleheader against Bondurant-Farrar

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The Ankeny baseball team earned its first wins of the season on Friday by sweeping a non-conference doubleheader against visiting Bondurant-Farrar. One big inning proved to be the difference in both games. The Hawks used a five-run third to post a 7-2 victory in the opener, then had a five-run fourth in the nightcap en route to a 9-6 triumph. "The boys … [Read more...] about Hawks use pair of 5-run innings to sweep doubleheader against Bondurant-Farrar

ONE OF A KIND: Smith becomes city of Ankeny’s first-ever state tennis champion

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The drought is over. Ankeny finally has a state tennis champion. Top-seeded Kira Smith posted a 6-1, 6-2 victory over No. 2 Sescie Haan of Clinton to capture the Class 2A singles title on Saturday afternoon at Iowa City. She rolled through the two-day tournament without losing a set. Ankeny Centennial's Samara Peterson, meanwhile, finished in eighth … [Read more...] about ONE OF A KIND: Smith becomes city of Ankeny’s first-ever state tennis champion

Smith tops Holland, will play Clinton’s Haan for Class 2A singles championship

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Kira Smith is one win away from becoming the city of Ankeny's first-ever state tennis champion. The top-seeded Ankeny senior posted a 6-3, 6-3 victory over No. 4 Lily Holland of Cedar Rapids Jefferson in the semifinals of the Class 2A singles division at the girls' state tournament on Saturday morning at Iowa City. She will play for the title this … [Read more...] about Smith tops Holland, will play Clinton’s Haan for Class 2A singles championship

‘We just needed a little luck’: Hawkettes earn another trip to state on Macke’s goal

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For much of Friday's game against visiting Cedar Falls, the ball didn't bounce right for the Ankeny girls' soccer team. The fifth-ranked Hawkettes struggled to find the net in a Class 3A regional final, and the chances of going to overtime grew more and more likely as the minutes ticked off the clock in the second half. "I was definitely worried," said … [Read more...] about ‘We just needed a little luck’: Hawkettes earn another trip to state on Macke’s goal

Wahlberg’s golden goal sends Hawks back to state tourney in dramatic fashion

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) No matter how the extra time golden goal went in, it was going to be either the game that got away from Ankeny or the major comeback effort that fell just short for visiting Des Moines Lincoln. But in back-to-back seasons, the Hawks will now head into the boys' Class 4A state soccer tournament off the back of a dramatic … [Read more...] about Wahlberg’s golden goal sends Hawks back to state tourney in dramatic fashion

Smith cruises into Class 2A semifinals, while Peterson becomes placewinner

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The potential matchup between Ankeny senior Kira Smith and Ankeny Centennial junior Samara Peterson never materialized on Friday in the Class 2A singles bracket, but both players advanced to the second day of the girls' state tournament at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex in Iowa City. The top-seeded Smith cruised into the semifinals with a pair … [Read more...] about Smith cruises into Class 2A semifinals, while Peterson becomes placewinner

‘It was awesome!’: Hawkettes celebrate coach’s birthday with sweep over Waukee

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The Ankeny softball players gave head coach Sarah Saladino a perfect birthday present. The seventh-ranked Hawkettes rebounded from Wednesday's season-opening loss to sweep a doubleheader on Thursday against visiting Waukee, the No. 11 team in Class 5A. They won by scores of 3-1 and 2-1 to give their first-year coach her first two victories with the … [Read more...] about ‘It was awesome!’: Hawkettes celebrate coach’s birthday with sweep over Waukee

Struggling Hawks drop both games of doubleheader against No. 4 Waukee

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The Ankeny baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader against visiting Waukee on Thursday. The fourth-ranked Warriors posted a 6-3 victory in the first game, then completed the sweep with a 15-1 win in five innings. They improved to 3-0 in the CIML Conference and 9-0 overall, while Ankeny's records dropped to 0-3 and 0-7. Waukee has outscored … [Read more...] about Struggling Hawks drop both games of doubleheader against No. 4 Waukee