The Ankeny baseball team bounced back from a 7-5 loss to Davenport Central with a 16-1 victory over Davenport West in five innings on Saturday at Davenport. The Hawks are now 7-13 on the season after splitting the non-conference games. "I was glad to come back with a win, but I was certainly hoping for two," said Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz. Ankeny had … [Read more...] about Hawks erupt for season-high 16 runs in five-inning victory over Davenport West
Hawks
‘It was a lot of innings!’: Lensmeyer carries heavy load as AHS finishes 3-1 at Creston
Aubrey Lensmeyer and her Ankeny softball teammates have earned a little time off. The seventh-ranked Hawkettes played six games over the last three days, beginning with a doubleheader split at Urbandale on Thursday. They then went 3-1 in the John Stephens Classic this weekend, capped off by a pair of victories on Saturday. Lensmeyer, a junior, pitched … [Read more...] about ‘It was a lot of innings!’: Lensmeyer carries heavy load as AHS finishes 3-1 at Creston
Hawks rally from 10-0 deficit to beat Urbandale, snap 6-game losing streak
Desperate for a win, the Ankeny baseball team refused to quit. Trailing 10-0 in the second game of a doubleheader on Thursday at Urbandale, the Hawks were three outs away from a run-rule loss that would have stretched their losing streak to seven games. Ankeny extended the contest by scoring three runs in the fifth inning and added five more in the … [Read more...] about Hawks rally from 10-0 deficit to beat Urbandale, snap 6-game losing streak
Rusher, Parton lead Hawkettes past Urbandale in first game of doubleheader
The Ankeny softball team had to settle for a split on Thursday at Urbandale. After the seventh-ranked Hawkettes posted a 2-1 victory in the opener of a CIML Conference doubleheader, Urbandale bounced back with a 3-2 win in the nightcap. The J-Hawks ended a 10-game losing streak to Ankeny. "We're still stuck in that hitting rut a little bit," said … [Read more...] about Rusher, Parton lead Hawkettes past Urbandale in first game of doubleheader
Balashaitis, Lewis earn academic all-state honors; 6 boys’ players also recognized
Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer players Maddison Balashaitis and Avery Lewis have been named to the Class 3A academic all-state first team by the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association, while Centennial's Tyson Woerdehoff earned first-team honors in Class 4A on the boys' side. Balashaitis, a junior defender, and Lewis, a senior midfielder, helped … [Read more...] about Balashaitis, Lewis earn academic all-state honors; 6 boys’ players also recognized
‘Our team responded pretty well’: Jags overcome rain delay to edge Ankeny, 4-3
The surging Ankeny Centennial baseball team continued its winning ways on Wednesday. The Jaguars' latest victory came at the expense of their crosstown rival. Sean Stewart and Colton Arndt combined on a seven-hitter as the fourth-ranked Jaguars posted a 4-3 win at Ankeny in a CIML Conference game that was briefly delayed by rain in the fourth … [Read more...] about ‘Our team responded pretty well’: Jags overcome rain delay to edge Ankeny, 4-3
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 262
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm breaks down the softball season thus far with coach Dave Bingham, senior pitcher Abby Rusher and senior catcher Marah Hansen of the seventh-ranked Ankeny squad. Coldwell Banker realtor Ronda Dix also makes an appearance. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 262
Gott, Loeffler, Macke receive all-state honors along with Balashaitis, Martin
Ankeny girls' soccer standouts Emma Gott, Sophie Loeffler and Alli Macke have received all-state honors from the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association along with the Ankeny Centennial duo of Maddison Balashaitis and Ava Martin. They were among the 20 players named to the Class 3A squad. Macke, a junior midfielder, racked up a team-high 15 goals for the … [Read more...] about Gott, Loeffler, Macke receive all-state honors along with Balashaitis, Martin
Ankeny foursome, Centennial trio named to Class 3A West all-district team
A quartet of Ankeny players and a trio from Ankeny Centennial have been named to the Class 3A West all-district girls' soccer team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. Ankeny was represented by senior forward Emma Gott, junior midfielders Camryn Dietz and Alli Macke, and junior defender Sophie Loeffler. That foursome led the Hawkettes to a 14-5 record, … [Read more...] about Ankeny foursome, Centennial trio named to Class 3A West all-district team
Hawkettes outlast No. 3 Waukee NW in 10 innings before Wolves earn split
After making an early mistake, Ankeny pitcher Abby Rusher buckled down on Monday night. Rusher gave up a leadoff homer to Sophia Schlader to start the game, then shut down third-ranked Waukee Northwest the rest of the way as the eighth-ranked Hawkettes posted a 2-1 victory in 10 innings in the opener of a CIML Conference softball doubleheader at … [Read more...] about Hawkettes outlast No. 3 Waukee NW in 10 innings before Wolves earn split
‘We’re just not scoring enough runs’: Hawks struggle at plate, fall twice to NW
It's too early for the Ankeny baseball team to panic. The Hawks just need to get their bats going. Ankeny dropped both ends of a CIML Conference doubleheader against visiting Waukee Northwest on Monday. The ninth-ranked Wolves posted a 6-2 victory in the opener before completing the sweep with a 4-1 win. "I didn't think either of their starters was … [Read more...] about ‘We’re just not scoring enough runs’: Hawks struggle at plate, fall twice to NW
Centennial’s Ty Duax joins Ankeny duo of Benge, Gloviak on all-CIML first team
Ankeny Centennial standout Ty Duax has been named to the CIML Conference first team by a vote of the league's boys' soccer coaches along with the Ankeny duo of Landon Benge and Dylan Gloviak. Duax, a senior midfielder, earned first-team all-conference honors for the fourth consecutive year. He was honored in the CIML Iowa Conference in 2021-22 before the … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Ty Duax joins Ankeny duo of Benge, Gloviak on all-CIML first team
Ankeny trio, Centennial’s Balashaitis named to CIML Conference first team
Twelve players from Ankeny and nine more from Ankeny Centennial have received all-conference honors from the girls' soccer coaches in the CIML Conference. Senior forward Emma Gott, junior midfielder Alli Macke and junior defender Sophie Loeffler of Ankeny were all named to the first team along with junior defender Maddison Balashaitis of Centennial. … [Read more...] about Ankeny trio, Centennial’s Balashaitis named to CIML Conference first team
Centennial’s Balashaitis joins Ankeny’s Gott, Macke on Class 3A all-tourney team
Girls' soccer standouts Emma Gott and Alli Macke of Ankeny and Maddison Balashaitis of Ankeny Centennial were named to the Class 3A all-tournament team on Saturday at Cownie Park. Gott and Macke helped the Hawkettes reach the semifinals of the state tournament earlier in the week. Balashaitis and the Jaguars took top-ranked Waukee Northwest into overtime … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Balashaitis joins Ankeny’s Gott, Macke on Class 3A all-tourney team
Irlmeier stays hot, but S.E. Polk uses 5-run 4th inning to post 6-4 win over Hawks
The seventh-ranked Southeast Polk baseball team used a five-run fourth inning to erase a 3-1 deficit and went on to beat host Ankeny, 6-4, in a CIML Conference game on Friday. The Hawks lost despite another big night from junior outfielder Evan Irlmeier, who went 3-for-3 for the second straight game and drove in a pair of runs. After a slow start to the … [Read more...] about Irlmeier stays hot, but S.E. Polk uses 5-run 4th inning to post 6-4 win over Hawks
‘We had so many chances’: Hawkettes fall to No. 7 Bettendorf in Class 3A semifinals
The game of soccer doesn't always reward the better team. It's a cruel reality that was endured by the Ankeny girls' squad on Thursday afternoon at Cownie Park. Despite dominating most of the contest, the third-ranked Hawkettes dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 7 Bettendorf in the Class 3A semifinals of the state tournament. The Bulldogs (17-3) advanced to … [Read more...] about ‘We had so many chances’: Hawkettes fall to No. 7 Bettendorf in Class 3A semifinals
Two-time defending champs top Ankeny, extend their winning streak to 21 games
The Ankeny baseball team allowed just six hits in a game against visiting Johnston on Thursday. But the top-ranked Dragons took advantage of six walks and six hit by pitches to post a 7-3 victory, extending their winning streak to 21 games dating back to last season. "We gave them 12 or 13 free bases, and that's an experienced lineup of juniors and … [Read more...] about Two-time defending champs top Ankeny, extend their winning streak to 21 games
‘We just couldn’t hold on’: Hawks’ late lead slips away in 3-2 loss to No. 2 Dowling
A lot of blood, sweat and tears. The Ankeny boys' soccer players left it all on the field. The seventh-ranked Hawks led for much of the game before falling to No. 2 Dowling Catholic, 3-2, in the Class 4A quarterfinals of the state tournament on Wednesday night at Cownie Park. The Maroons never led until Kevin Copic scored the winning goal with just 1 … [Read more...] about ‘We just couldn’t hold on’: Hawks’ late lead slips away in 3-2 loss to No. 2 Dowling
Gerstel, Davies toss back-to-back shutouts in Hawks’ sweep at Ames
A road trip to Ames resulted in back-to-back shutouts for the Ankeny baseball team on Wednesday. The Hawks posted a 12-0 victory in the opener, then completed a sweep of the non-conference doubleheader with a 9-0 win. They improved to 5-6 overall. "The boys played pretty well tonight," said Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz. "We turned like three or four double … [Read more...] about Gerstel, Davies toss back-to-back shutouts in Hawks’ sweep at Ames
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 261
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm breaks down the girls' Class 3A state soccer tournament with Ankeny coach Simon Brown and senior forward Emma Gott, who scored two goals in the Hawkettes' 3-0 victory over Waukee in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 261