Ankeny Fanatic

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Hawks

Hawks fall twice to Fort Dodge on their Senior Night

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The Ankeny baseball team was hoping to use a Senior Night doubleheader to get back above the .500 mark. Instead, the Hawks saw their losing streak extended to five games as visiting Fort Dodge swept both games of a non-conference twinbill on Tuesday, 6-4 and 2-0. The Dodgers snapped their own five-game losing streak while improving to 13-18 on the … [Read more...] about Hawks fall twice to Fort Dodge on their Senior Night

Valley sweeps Hawkettes, claims Central Conference crown

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If the Ankeny softball team defeats Valley next week to earn a trip to the Class 5A state tournament, none of the Hawkettes will even care about what happened on Monday night. The ninth-ranked Tigers swept a doubleheader against No. 8 Ankeny, 12-5 and 14-8, to clinch the outright CIML Central Conference title. The two teams entered the twinbill at Valley … [Read more...] about Valley sweeps Hawkettes, claims Central Conference crown

Walk-off win allows Tigers to claim outright conference title

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The Valley baseball team had already clinched at least a share of the CIML Central Conference title heading into Monday's doubleheader against visiting Ankeny. The Tigers were determined to capture the outright crown. Valley swept the twinbill by scores of 6-5 and 4-1 to finish with a 15-5 record in the league. The Tigers improved to 24-12 … [Read more...] about Walk-off win allows Tigers to claim outright conference title

Maifeld tosses 3-hitter, leads Hawks to split against No. 6 S.E. Polk

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When Jayden Maifeld is at the top of his game, the Ankeny baseball team can be pretty dangerous. Maifeld tossed a three-hitter and had eight strikeouts to lead the Hawks to a 5-2 victory over sixth-ranked Southeast Polk in the first game of a CIML Central Conference doubleheader on Saturday at Ankeny. "I felt great," said Maifeld, who evened his record … [Read more...] about Maifeld tosses 3-hitter, leads Hawks to split against No. 6 S.E. Polk

Buttjer honored before Hawkettes drop 3-2 decision to North Polk

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Senior Sophie Buttjer has appeared in only five games this season for the Ankeny softball team, pitching a total of 10 2/3 innings. Buttjer was sidelined by a blood clot in her leg that prevented her from being a part of the Hawkettes' regular rotation on the mound. "It was an emotional deal," said Ankeny coach Dave Bingham. "I think she would have … [Read more...] about Buttjer honored before Hawkettes drop 3-2 decision to North Polk

Hawkettes sweep Ames, will play at Valley Monday for conference title

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The race for the CIML Central Conference softball title will be decided on Monday night. That's when ninth-ranked Valley will host No. 8 Ankeny in a head-to-head showdown for the crown. The doubleheader begins at 6 p.m. Both teams are now 13-4 in the conference after the Hawkettes swept a twinbill on Thursday at Ames. They rolled to a 14-1 victory in … [Read more...] about Hawkettes sweep Ames, will play at Valley Monday for conference title

Magical season continues for Hawkettes with 2 extra-inning wins over Waukee

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It's been a season of magical moments for Kennedy Thomas and the eighth-ranked Ankeny softball team. On Wednesday, Thomas delivered the most magical moment thus far. The senior slugger hit a walk-off grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Hawkettes a 9-6 victory over No. 11 Waukee in the first game of a CIML Central … [Read more...] about Magical season continues for Hawkettes with 2 extra-inning wins over Waukee

Hawks bounce back to win nightcap, earn split against Waukee

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Ankeny baseball coach Joe Balvanz wanted to use both Cameron Rinker and Chris Spear on the mound during Wednesday's doubleheader against visiting Waukee. He is also hoping to get some innings out of both pitchers during Saturday's make-up twinbill against sixth-ranked Southeast Polk. The only solution was to split Wednesday's second game between the … [Read more...] about Hawks bounce back to win nightcap, earn split against Waukee

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Madison Bonner-Palmer, Ankeny softball

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Madison Bonner-Palmer of the Ankeny softball team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. The senior slugger is batting .417 on the season. She has two home runs and two doubles among her 15 hits while driving in 11 runs. Bonner-Palmer has helped Ankeny to a 23-8 record and a No. 8 ranking in Class 5A. The Hawkettes will host a CIML … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Madison Bonner-Palmer, Ankeny softball

Thomas’ grand slam lifts Hawkettes past Centennial in 10-9 thriller

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Even when Kennedy Thomas thinks she has hit a pop fly, the ball often carries over the fence. Thomas hit a pair of home runs, including a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning, to lead the eighth-ranked Ankeny softball team to a 10-9 victory at rival Ankeny Centennial in a rain-shortened game on Monday. "I did get a pitch I was looking for on the … [Read more...] about Thomas’ grand slam lifts Hawkettes past Centennial in 10-9 thriller

Morris outduels Maifeld, leads Jaguars to win over Ankeny

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Trey Morris didn't get a chance to play against crosstown rival Ankeny earlier this month. When Morris took the mound on Monday to pitch against the Hawks, he made the most of his opportunity. The sophomore righthander tossed six solid innings to lead the Ankeny Centennial baseball team to an 8-3 victory in the first game of a CIML Central Conference … [Read more...] about Morris outduels Maifeld, leads Jaguars to win over Ankeny

Hawkettes halt brief losing skid with 11-1 victory over Pleasantville

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For the third time this season, the Ankeny softball team refused to let back-to-back losses turn into a three-game losing streak. The eighth-ranked Hawkettes rolled to an 11-1 victory over Pleasantville in five innings in their final game at the Brent Prange Classic on Saturday. They went 2-2 in the tournament and are now 22-8 on the season. "We came … [Read more...] about Hawkettes halt brief losing skid with 11-1 victory over Pleasantville

After long layoff, Hawks fall to Heelan, then roll past Bettendorf

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It took awhile, but the Ankeny baseball team finally got its offense untracked during the Brent Prange Classic on Saturday. After dropping a 2-1 decision to Sioux City Heelan, the Hawks fell behind Bettendorf, 1-0, in their second game of the tournament. Ankeny scored twice in the third inning to take a 2-1 lead. The Hawks then erupted for six runs in … [Read more...] about After long layoff, Hawks fall to Heelan, then roll past Bettendorf

Hawkettes earn No. 1 seed in Class 5A Region 2

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By moving up to No. 8 in Class 5A in the latest rankings, the Ankeny softball team also earned a No. 1 seed for the upcoming regional tournaments. The Hawkettes (21-7) have been placed in Region 2 by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. They will host a semifinal game against Council Bluffs Jefferson (13-8) or Council Bluffs Lincoln (5-17) on July … [Read more...] about Hawkettes earn No. 1 seed in Class 5A Region 2

Bingham watches from dugout as Hawkettes sweep Dowling Catholic

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Ankeny softball coach Dave Bingham has been coaching from the dugout in recent games. The way the Hawkettes played on Thursday, he may stay there for awhile. Eighth-ranked Ankeny swept a non-conference doubleheader against No. 14 Dowling Catholic at Dick Rasmussen Field to raise its overall record to 20-6. The Hawkettes posted a 6-5 victory in the … [Read more...] about Bingham watches from dugout as Hawkettes sweep Dowling Catholic

Hawkettes regain sole possession of first place on Daugherty’s walk-off single

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With one swing of the bat, Malea Daugherty lifted the Ankeny softball team back into sole possession of first place in the CIML Central Conference. Daugherty hit a walk-off single with two outs in the eighth inning to give the 11th-ranked Hawkettes a 5-4 victory over No. 12 Southeast Polk in the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday at Ankeny. The … [Read more...] about Hawkettes regain sole possession of first place on Daugherty’s walk-off single

More about Ankeny Fanatic’s future from Chris Williams, and how you can help

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Dear Citizens of Ankeny, According to the latest U.S. Census Report, Ankeny is now the fourth-fastest-growing city in America. Ankeny showed a 6.4 percent population growth over the last year and is now home to over 62,000 citizens! Incredible. Ankeny Fanatic wants to serve you, but we also need your help. Most of you do not know me. My name is … [Read more...] about More about Ankeny Fanatic’s future from Chris Williams, and how you can help

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Kennedy Thomas, Ankeny softball

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Senior first baseman and pitcher Kennedy Thomas has helped the Ankeny softball team to a 17-5 record and a No. 11 ranking in Class 5A. Thomas is batting .423 with eight home runs, six doubles and 32 RBIs. On the mound, she has compiled a 4-1 mark with a 3.42 ERA. Here is some inside info on Thomas: Congratulations on a great season thus far. What … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Kennedy Thomas, Ankeny softball

Hawkettes knock off No. 1 C.R. Kennedy, finish 2nd at Fort Dodge Invitational

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The Ankeny softball team was just three outs away from winning the Fort Dodge Invitational title on Saturday. Unfortunately, the host Dodgers refused to go away quietly. Tenth-ranked Fort Dodge scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally past the Hawkettes, 10-9, in the championship game of the tournament. The Dodgers (20-4) … [Read more...] about Hawkettes knock off No. 1 C.R. Kennedy, finish 2nd at Fort Dodge Invitational