If the Ankeny softball team hopes to reach the Class 5A state tournament, the Hawkettes may have to find some different ways to win a couple of regional games. The 15th-ranked Hawkettes proved on Wednesday that they might be able to do that. And Ankeny even defeated one of the teams, Southeast Polk, that it will have to beat in order to advance to Fort … [Read more...] about Hawkettes sweep S.E. Polk with pair of dramatic walk-off victories
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Ankeny receiver Kumm decommits from MSUM, will play for Iowa Central
Ankeny football standout Jordan Kumm has decided to stay closer to home. The wide receiver, who had previously committed to play for Minnesota State University Moorhead, announced earlier this week via Twitter that he'll be heading to Iowa Central Community College in the fall. "God's got a plan!" Kumm tweeted. "I would like to thank the whole coaching … [Read more...] about Ankeny receiver Kumm decommits from MSUM, will play for Iowa Central
Rumley hits her 37th career home run to break Lindaman’s Ankeny record
Ankeny's Jasmine Rumley has already set a bunch of records in the swimming pool. She's been a record-breaker on the softball field, too. The senior third baseman hit her 37th career home run on Tuesday during the Hawkettes' doubleheader split at Dowling Catholic. She broke the Ankeny career mark of 36 homers that was set by Kendyl Lindaman in … [Read more...] about Rumley hits her 37th career home run to break Lindaman’s Ankeny record
No. 3 Hawks split with No. 1 Dowling in potential substate final preview
(UPDATE: The rest of Dowling Catholic's season has been cancelled after one of its players tested positive for COVID-19.) Tuesday's baseball doubleheader at Dowling Catholic provided a unique opportunity for both the top-ranked Maroons and No. 3 Ankeny to get a glimpse of their potential opponent in a Class 4A substate final. Both squads have been … [Read more...] about No. 3 Hawks split with No. 1 Dowling in potential substate final preview
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kailey Becker, Ankeny softball
Senior second baseman Kailey Becker has helped the 15th-ranked Ankeny softball team to a 12-8 record. She is batting .279 with one triple, two doubles and 14 RBIs on the season. Becker went 2-for-4 and drove in four runs to lead Ankeny to an 11-8 victory over No. 5 Ankeny Centennial in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday. She was 2-for-2 with … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kailey Becker, Ankeny softball
BUBBLE BURSTERS: Hawkettes hold off Urbandale to complete twinbill sweep
The Ankeny softball team was three outs away from recording back-to-back shutouts in a doubleheader on Thursday at Urbandale. The 15th-ranked Hawkettes took a 6-0 lead into the seventh inning of the nightcap after winning the opener, 10-0, in five innings. Pitcher Ashtyn Billings cruised through the first six innings before running into trouble in the … [Read more...] about BUBBLE BURSTERS: Hawkettes hold off Urbandale to complete twinbill sweep
Fulk fans 8, hits 3 doubles in Hawks’ 12-2 victory over No. 3 Urbandale
Ankeny's Weston Fulk relied on his left arm to shut down the Urbandale baseball team on Thursday. The junior's bat was pretty productive, too. Fulk racked up eight strikeouts over the first five innings and also went 4-for-4 at the plate with three doubles and three RBIs to lead the fifth-ranked Hawks to a 12-2 victory in six innings in the first game … [Read more...] about Fulk fans 8, hits 3 doubles in Hawks’ 12-2 victory over No. 3 Urbandale
Ankeny boys, girls earn all-American honors from NISCA
Several Ankeny male and female swimmers have earned all-American honors from the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association. The top 100 times in each event nationally were recognized as all-American efforts. Junior Trent Frandson, who led the Ankeny boys' team to a second-place finish at the state meet in February, is a four-time all-American. … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys, girls earn all-American honors from NISCA
Hawkettes, Jaguars placed in different softball regionals in Class 5A
If there's another meeting between the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial softball teams, it will have to come at the state tournament in Fort Dodge. The fifth-ranked Jaguars and No. 15 Hawkettes have been placed in different regionals by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. The postseason pairings were announced on Thursday. Centennial (15-5) is the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes, Jaguars placed in different softball regionals in Class 5A
‘The guys played at a high level’: Ankeny sweeps Jaguars behind pitching gems
The Ankeny baseball team brought all of its pitching arms to Principal Park on Wednesday. That spelled trouble for the Hawks' crosstown rival. Fifth-ranked Ankeny got a pair of pitching gems from Bryce Rinderknecht and Brody Brecht to sweep a doubleheader against No. 10 Ankeny Centennial, 4-1 and 2-1. The Hawks gained some much-needed revenge after … [Read more...] about ‘The guys played at a high level’: Ankeny sweeps Jaguars behind pitching gems
‘We expected a lot of runs’: Hawkettes, Jaguars split high-scoring twinbill
The Ankeny softball team got a much-needed victory Wednesday against its crosstown rival. Then Ankeny Centennial bounced back with one of its own. The two squads split a high-scoring CIML doubleheader at Ankeny, combining for 35 runs. The 15th-ranked Hawkettes ended a four-game losing skid with an 11-8 victory in the opener before No. 11 Centennial … [Read more...] about ‘We expected a lot of runs’: Hawkettes, Jaguars split high-scoring twinbill
Hawks sweep rival at Principal Park; Centennial salvages split in softball
Nobody had to remind Brody Brecht what happened last year when his Ankeny baseball team played crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial. Brecht allowed just two hits over six scoreless innings and had 13 strikeouts to lead the fifth-ranked Hawks past No. 10 Centennial, 2-1, in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader at Principal Park. Ankeny also won the … [Read more...] about Hawks sweep rival at Principal Park; Centennial salvages split in softball
Boyd’s blast, Bauer’s walk-off single allow Hawks to split with No. 2 Johnston
Anytime a pitcher gets ahead in the count, it becomes increasingly difficult for the batter to get a hit. Ankeny's Jase Bauer and Cael Boyd proved on Monday that it's not always the case. Bauer hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning--on a no-ball, two-strike pitch--to give the fifth-ranked Ankeny baseball team a 5-4 victory over No. 2 … [Read more...] about Boyd’s blast, Bauer’s walk-off single allow Hawks to split with No. 2 Johnston
‘It’s a karma thing’: Hawkettes drop both ends of twinbill against No. 3 Johnston
After moving into the Class 5A rankings for the first time, the Ankeny softball team has yet to win a game. The 15th-ranked Hawkettes lost both ends of a doubleheader on Monday against visiting Johnston, the No. 3 team in Class 5A. The Dragons posted a 7-5 victory in eight innings in the opener, then rallied from a 5-2 deficit to complete the sweep with a … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a karma thing’: Hawkettes drop both ends of twinbill against No. 3 Johnston
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 96
Check out the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by the Ankeny office of Iowa Realty. Ankeny Fanatic publisher Dan Holm interviews all four of Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial's baseball and softball coaches to analyze the season thus far and to preview Wednesday's Jag-Hawk doubleheaders. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 96
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Mo Watson, Ankeny baseball
Senior catcher Mo Watson has helped the second-ranked Ankeny baseball team to an 8-4 record. He is batting .344 with three doubles, one triple and nine RBIs. Watson was also a standout last fall on the football field, where the linebacker made 53 tackles while helping the Hawks reach the Class 4A quarterfinals. He was an all-district second-team pick for … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Mo Watson, Ankeny baseball
‘I think we’re going to keep rolling now’: Somers sparks sweep with walk-off hit
The Ankeny baseball players may have violated one of the social distancing guidelines on Friday. But in the Hawks' defense, they had a good reason to do so. Kade Somers hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning to give second-ranked Ankeny a 2-1 victory over No. 5 Waukee in the first game of a CIML doubleheader. The host Hawks then … [Read more...] about ‘I think we’re going to keep rolling now’: Somers sparks sweep with walk-off hit
A PERFECT DOZEN: No. 2 Waukee sweeps Hawkettes, improves to 12-0
The Ankeny softball team had a chance to knock off second-ranked Waukee in the first game of Friday's doubleheader at Ankeny. In the second game, the No. 15 Hawkettes never had a chance. Waukee held on for a 2-1 victory in the opener, then completed a sweep with a 16-2 win over the Hawkettes. The Warriors improved to 12-0 on the season, while Ankeny's … [Read more...] about A PERFECT DOZEN: No. 2 Waukee sweeps Hawkettes, improves to 12-0
Hawkettes move into rankings after handing Valley its first loss
Slowly but surely, the Ankeny softball team is beginning to earn some respect. The Hawkettes moved into the Class 5A rankings for the first time this season on Thursday after splitting a doubleheader at No. 6 Valley on Wednesday. They are now ranked 15th with a 9-3 record. Ankeny coach Dave Bingham would have preferred to keep his team out of the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes move into rankings after handing Valley its first loss
Hawks end three-game slide, earn split with 13-6 victory over Valley
With a No. 2 ranking in Class 4A, the Ankeny baseball team entered the season with some high expectations. The Hawks have placed a lot of pressure on themselves to meet those expectations--and haven't always succeeded. Wednesday's doubleheader at Valley may have been a turning point for coach Joe Balvanz and his players. After Ankeny suffered its third … [Read more...] about Hawks end three-game slide, earn split with 13-6 victory over Valley