Valley pitcher Maddie Zlomke recorded only three strikeouts during Monday's softball game against visiting Ankeny. The Hawkettes had no trouble putting the ball in play. They just didn't find many holes in Valley's defense. Zlomke had a perfect game through four innings and went on to toss a three-hitter as the third-ranked Tigers posted a 4-0 victory … [Read more...] about ‘We had a lot of outs in the air’: Hawkettes held to 3 hits in 4-0 loss at No. 3 Valley
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Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 308
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Legacy Realty of Iowa and Revive Dermatology Clinic and Spa, publisher Dan Holm interviews former Ankeny girls’ tennis coach Steve Smith and his daughter Kira, who recently won the Class 2A singles title to become the first-ever state tennis champion from the city of Ankeny. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 308
Benge earns all-state honors in Class 4A along with Duax, Gloviak, Wahlberg
Ankeny boys' soccer standout Landon Benge has been named to the Class 4A all-state first team for the second straight year by the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association. Benge, a senior forward, was joined on the first team by teammate Dylan Gloviak, a senior defender. Junior forward Tate Duax of Ankeny Centennial was also a first-team pick, while … [Read more...] about Benge earns all-state honors in Class 4A along with Duax, Gloviak, Wahlberg
‘We’re just really starting to trust the process’: Hawkettes finish 3-1 at Creston
A trip to Creston may have provided a midseason spark for the Ankeny softball team. After getting off to a 4-7 start, the Hawkettes traveled to Union County over the weekend and won three of four games in the John Stephens Classic. The last three games were against Class 4A rated opponents. Ankeny (7-8) closed out the tournament on Saturday with an 8-7 … [Read more...] about ‘We’re just really starting to trust the process’: Hawkettes finish 3-1 at Creston
Hawks roll past C.B. Lincoln in 6 innings, then drop 7-4 decision to No. 3 S.C. East
The Ankeny baseball team got a much-needed victory on Saturday at Council Bluffs before nearly pulling off an upset against one of the top squads in Class 4A. The Hawks ended a five-game losing skid with an 11-1 win over Council Bluffs Lincoln in six innings. They then battled third-ranked Sioux City East on even terms for much of the game before dropping … [Read more...] about Hawks roll past C.B. Lincoln in 6 innings, then drop 7-4 decision to No. 3 S.C. East
‘We’ve got some guys dinged up’: Hawks drop 2 to Ames as tough week continues
It's been a tough week for the Ankeny baseball team. It started on Monday with an injury to starting pitcher Will Davies during the first game of a doubleheader loss to Waukee Northwest, followed on Wednesday with a five-inning loss to Dowling Catholic, and then continued on Thursday with two more losses to visiting Ames in a non-conference … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got some guys dinged up’: Hawks drop 2 to Ames as tough week continues
‘We had a lot of kids step up’: Hawkettes make adjustments, romp past Dowling
After dropping six of its previous seven games, the Ankeny softball team needed to make some adjustments. The 13th-ranked Hawkettes responded on Wednesday with a 7-2 victory over visiting Dowling Catholic. "It was nice to get a 'W'," said Ankeny coach Sarah Saladino. "We've just gone back to work at practice and changed up a few things that we were … [Read more...] about ‘We had a lot of kids step up’: Hawkettes make adjustments, romp past Dowling
‘Things just kind of snowballed on us’: Hawks tumble to Dowling in 5 innings
A fast start ignited the visiting Dowling Catholic baseball team to a 13-1 victory at Ankeny in five innings on Wednesday. The Maroons took a 4-0 lead in the first inning and then scored four more runs in the second. They tacked on another run in the third, three in the fourth and one more in the fifth. "We gave up five walks, two (hit by pitches), and … [Read more...] about ‘Things just kind of snowballed on us’: Hawks tumble to Dowling in 5 innings
Ankeny seniors Benge, Gloviak named to Class 4A all-tournament team
Ankeny seniors Landon Benge and Dylan Gloviak were both named to the Class 4A all-tournament team after leading the Hawks to the semifinals for the first time since 2018. Benge scored a pair of goals in Ankeny's 3-1 win over second-ranked Des Moines Roosevelt in the quarterfinals on June 2 at Mediacom Stadium. He finished the season with 27 goals, which … [Read more...] about Ankeny seniors Benge, Gloviak named to Class 4A all-tournament team
‘Our inexperience hurt us’: Wolves use late rally to complete sweep over Ankeny
Last Thursday, the Ankeny baseball team rallied for six runs in the seventh inning to earn an improbable 12-8 victory at Southeast Polk in the second game of a doubleheader. On Monday, the Hawks experienced the other side of a dramatic rally. Visiting Waukee Northwest scored four runs in the seventh inning to forge a 6-6 tie, then plated four more in … [Read more...] about ‘Our inexperience hurt us’: Wolves use late rally to complete sweep over Ankeny
‘We’ve just got to tighten up our defense’: Errors prove costly as Hawkettes fall twice
Ankeny softball pitchers Aubrey Lensmeyer and Kaylyn Miller both had decent outings on the mound Monday against one of the state's best teams. Unfortunately, a lack of timely hits and some costly errors resulted in a pair of losses for the 13th-ranked Hawkettes. No. 2 Waukee Northwest swept both games of a CIML Conference doubleheader on the road, 5-1 … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve just got to tighten up our defense’: Errors prove costly as Hawkettes fall twice
Balashaitis, Martin, Macke, Paoli selected to Class 3A all-state first team by IGCA
Girls' soccer standouts Maddison Balashaitis and Ava Martin of Ankeny Centennial have been named to the Class 3A all-state first team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association for the second straight year. Ankeny star Alli Macke was also a repeat selection. She was joined on the squad by teammate Ava Paoli. Balashaitis, a senior defender, helped the … [Read more...] about Balashaitis, Martin, Macke, Paoli selected to Class 3A all-state first team by IGCA
Hawks rally for 6 runs in 7th inning to salvage split of twinbill at S.E. Polk
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
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
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
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
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
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
(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
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