This year's edition of the Ankeny baseball team isn't the most talented squad that Joe Balvanz has coached during his tenure with the Hawks. But it might be one of the grittiest. Ankeny bounced back from a 15-11 loss at fourth-ranked Johnston on Monday with an 8-7 victory in the second game of a doubleheader. The Hawks snapped their three-game losing … [Read more...] about ‘It’s hard to win over there’: Hawks salvage split at No. 4 Johnston with 8-7 victory
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Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Carson Riggs, Ankeny baseball
Senior infielder Carson Riggs has helped the Ankeny baseball team to a 10-16 record. He is batting .290 with three doubles and 14 RBIs for the Hawks, who will travel to Johnston on Monday for a CIML Conference doubleheader against the fourth-ranked Dragons. Riggs is headed to Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville to play for the Lakers in the … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Carson Riggs, Ankeny baseball
Jaguars cruise to championship of Fort Dodge Invitational; Ankeny places 4th
Mady Ott and the Ankeny Centennial softball team feel right at home at Harlan Rogers Park. Ott homered twice and drove in seven runs on Saturday as the fifth-ranked Jaguars cruised to the championship of the 16-team Fort Dodge Invitational. They rallied for an 11-5 victory over Class 3A No. 1 Williamsburg in the semifinals, then followed with an 8-2 … [Read more...] about Jaguars cruise to championship of Fort Dodge Invitational; Ankeny places 4th
Linn-Mar snaps Hawks’ winning streak, extends its own to 8 games with sweep
One of the state's hottest baseball teams visited Ankeny on Friday for a non-conference doubleheader and swept the Hawks. Linn-Mar (Marion) posted a 12-2 victory in six innings in the opener, snapping Ankeny's three-game winning streak. The Lions then completed the sweep with an 8-4 win. Linn-Mar (16-6) has won its last eight games by a combined margin … [Read more...] about Linn-Mar snaps Hawks’ winning streak, extends its own to 8 games with sweep
Hawks edge Waukee as trio combines on 1-hitter, Irlmeier delivers 2-run single
A slow start this season knocked the Ankeny baseball team out of CIML Conference title contention right away. But that doesn't mean the Hawks can't be a factor in the race. Three Ankeny pitchers combined on a one-hitter as the Hawks posted a 2-1 victory over visiting Waukee on Thursday. It was the third straight loss for the fifth-ranked Warriors, who … [Read more...] about Hawks edge Waukee as trio combines on 1-hitter, Irlmeier delivers 2-run single
Rusher, Lensmeyer combine to shut down Dowling Catholic in Hawkettes’ sweep
Abby Rusher and Aubrey Lensmeyer combined to allow just three runs as the Ankeny softball team swept a doubleheader on Wednesday at Dowling Catholic. The seventh-ranked Hawkettes posted a 5-0 victory in the opener, then completed the sweep with a 9-3 triumph. They improved to 6-2 in the CIML Conference and 11-7 overall, while Dowling's records dropped to … [Read more...] about Rusher, Lensmeyer combine to shut down Dowling Catholic in Hawkettes’ sweep
‘They can play that way all the time’: Hawks erupt for 24 runs, sweep Dowling
Wednesday's doubleheader at 10th-ranked Dowling Catholic might have been a turning point for the Ankeny baseball team. The Hawks used a seven-run eighth inning to post a 12-5 victory in the first game, then erupted for 11 runs in the first inning of the nightcap and went on to complete a sweep with a 12-2 win in five innings. "I hope it's a confidence … [Read more...] about ‘They can play that way all the time’: Hawks erupt for 24 runs, sweep Dowling
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 263
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm breaks down the baseball season thus far with coach Joe Balvanz and junior shortstop Kinnick Vos of Ankeny. Coldwell Banker realtor Tom Butler also makes an appearance. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 263
Hawks drop 3-2 decision at Valley despite quality start, 3 hits from Clevidence
The Ankeny baseball team got a quality start from senior righthander Jack Clevidence, but it wasn't enough to produce a victory on Monday at Valley. After the Hawks took a 2-0 lead in the third inning, Valley answered with three runs in the fourth and then held on for a 3-2 win to snap a six-game losing streak. The Tigers improved to 2-7 in the CIML … [Read more...] about Hawks drop 3-2 decision at Valley despite quality start, 3 hits from Clevidence
Centennial’s Ty Duax joins his father as three-time all-state selection by IHSSCA
Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer standout Ty Duax has joined his father in an exclusive club. Duax, a senior midfielder, has earned all-state honors from the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association for the third time, landing a spot on the Class 4A first team. He was a Class 4A second-team pick as a junior after being named to the Class 3A first team as … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Ty Duax joins his father as three-time all-state selection by IHSSCA
Ankeny’s Macke earns all-state honors from IHSSCA for 2nd consecutive year
Junior midfielder Alli Macke of Ankeny has earned all-state honors from the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association for the second straight year. Macke, who was named to the Class 3A second team as a sophomore, was selected to the first team along with teammate Emma Gott. Ava Martin of Ankeny Centennial was also a first-team pick. Macke led the … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Macke earns all-state honors from IHSSCA for 2nd consecutive year
Hawks erupt for season-high 16 runs in five-inning victory over Davenport West
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
‘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