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‘It already felt like home’: Gerstel to join Halverson on Ellsworth pitching staff

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Until recently, Ankeny senior Travis Gerstel wasn't planning to continue his baseball career in college. Now, the righthanded pitcher has committed to play for Ellsworth Community College. "At the start of the season I wasn’t planning to go onto the next level," said Gerstel. "It wasn’t until recently I had a conversation with my dad that changed my … [Read more...] about ‘It already felt like home’: Gerstel to join Halverson on Ellsworth pitching staff

Struggling Hawkettes fall to 11-25 with shutout losses to ADM, North Polk

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The Ankeny softball team dropped a pair of games to Class 4A ranked opponents at the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational on Thursday. The Hawkettes suffered a 3-0 loss to No. 4 ADM, then fell to No. 7 North Polk, 12-0, in four innings. They are now 11-25 on the season. ADM (24-6) scored a run in each of the first three innings. Lauren Hagedorn doubled, … [Read more...] about Struggling Hawkettes fall to 11-25 with shutout losses to ADM, North Polk

Hawks edge DC-G on Senior Night, extend their winning streak to 7 games

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The surging Ankeny baseball team extended its winning streak to seven games with a 6-5 victory over visiting Dallas Center-Grimes in a non-conference game on Thursday. The Hawks used a four-run third inning to erase a 3-2 deficit, then held on for the win on their Senior Night. They raised their record to 14-19, while Dallas Center-Grimes fell to … [Read more...] about Hawks edge DC-G on Senior Night, extend their winning streak to 7 games

Ex-AHS softball star Rusher transfers to Bradley after freshman year at Creighton

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Former Ankeny softball star Abby Rusher has transferred to Bradley University following her freshman season at Creighton. "So excited for this new chapter!" Rusher tweeted Tuesday on X in announcing her commitment to the Braves. Rusher, a pitcher, helped the Bluejays to a 30-25 record, including a 15-9 mark in the Big East Conference. She appeared in … [Read more...] about Ex-AHS softball star Rusher transfers to Bradley after freshman year at Creighton

‘Zach put us on his back’: Halverson goes distance, leads Hawks past Waukee NW

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The Ankeny baseball team fell out of contention for the CIML Conference title early in the season. But that doesn't mean that the Hawks can't have an impact on the race. Zach Halverson tossed a six-hitter and had nine strikeouts to lead Ankeny to a 5-3 victory on Wednesday at third-ranked Waukee Northwest, which was hoping to move closer to the league … [Read more...] about ‘Zach put us on his back’: Halverson goes distance, leads Hawks past Waukee NW

No. 1 Wolves shut out Ankeny, capture outright CIML Conference championship

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Despite dropping a 5-0 decision on Wednesday at top-ranked Waukee Northwest, the Ankeny softball team made the Wolves work for their 25th consecutive victory. Northwest led by only 2-0 through four innings. The Wolves tacked on a run in the fifth inning, then added two more in the sixth to wrap up the outright CIML Conference championship. "It was some … [Read more...] about No. 1 Wolves shut out Ankeny, capture outright CIML Conference championship

‘We had some great at-bats’: Hawks top S.E. Polk for season-high 5th straight win

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The signs of progress have been there for the Ankeny baseball team. Now, the wins are coming as well. The Hawks extended their winning streak to a season-high five games with a 6-3 victory over visiting Southeast Polk in a make-up game on Tuesday. They improved to 7-12 in the CIML Conference and 12-19 overall, while the Rams' records fell to 10-10 and … [Read more...] about ‘We had some great at-bats’: Hawks top S.E. Polk for season-high 5th straight win

Hawkettes pound out 12 hits, but tumble to No. 6 S.E. Polk girls in extra innings

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The Ankeny softball team is hoping to get another shot at CIML Conference rival Southeast Polk. After the two squads split a doubleheader on June 5 at Pleasant Hill, the sixth-ranked Rams traveled to Ankeny on Tuesday for a make-up game and posted an 8-5 victory in eight innings. They scored two runs in the sixth inning to tie it at 5-5 and then used a … [Read more...] about Hawkettes pound out 12 hits, but tumble to No. 6 S.E. Polk girls in extra innings

Ankeny sweeps Maroons in potential preview of substate semifinal on July 14

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The Ankeny baseball team traveled to Dowling Catholic on Monday for a CIML Conference doubleheader against the Maroons, who could potentially host the Hawks again in a Class 4A substate semifinal on July 14. That possibility led to both squads making some adjustments to their lineups, especially with the use of their pitchers. Neither coach wanted the … [Read more...] about Ankeny sweeps Maroons in potential preview of substate semifinal on July 14

Lensmeyer hurls Hawkettes past Dowling in first game of doubleheader split

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If the Ankeny softball team is going to pull off any surprises in postseason play, the Hawkettes will likely need to rely on the right arm of senior pitcher Aubrey Lensmeyer. The South Dakota recruit tossed a four-hitter and had four strikeouts to lead Ankeny to a 2-1 victory at Dowling Catholic in the first game of a doubleheader on Monday. The Maroons … [Read more...] about Lensmeyer hurls Hawkettes past Dowling in first game of doubleheader split

Hawks rally for walk-off win over No. 2 C.R. Prairie, then top N. Scott at Prange Classic

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Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz often reminds his players that baseball is a unique sport. "I tell the guys all the time, 'This is the only game where you can't run out the clock. You can't dribble it out. You can't kneel on it. If you have outs left, you have a puncher's chance,'" Balvanz said. That proved to be the case in the Brent Prange Classic on … [Read more...] about Hawks rally for walk-off win over No. 2 C.R. Prairie, then top N. Scott at Prange Classic

‘We played some very good competition’: Hawkettes place 8th at Linn-Mar Invite

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For the second weekend in a row, the Ankeny softball squad earned an eighth-place finish in a 16-team tournament by winning its first-round game before dropping the next three contests. The Hawkettes posted a 5-0 victory over North Linn in the Linn-Mar Invitational on Friday at Marion. They then dropped a 6-2 decision in the quarterfinals to Cedar Rapids … [Read more...] about ‘We played some very good competition’: Hawkettes place 8th at Linn-Mar Invite

Regional softball pairings announced: Jaguars earn top seed, Ankeny hits road

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The Class 5A regional softball pairings have been announced by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. Third-ranked Ankeny Centennial (22-8) is the top seed in Region 3 and will host Urbandale (7-18) or Des Moines North (0-10) in a regional semifinal on Saturday, July 12 at 7 p.m. No. 14 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (17-15) will host Waterloo West (12-18) in … [Read more...] about Regional softball pairings announced: Jaguars earn top seed, Ankeny hits road

‘We just find ways to win’: Dramatic rally in 7th allows Centennial to sweep Hawks

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Isaac Bruhl hesitated only briefly as he rounded third base. The Ankeny Centennial senior raced home from second on a fielder's choice to cap a dramatic four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving the ninth-ranked Jaguars a 5-4 win over visiting Ankeny and a sweep of a CIML Conference baseball doubleheader on Wednesday. "That was … [Read more...] about ‘We just find ways to win’: Dramatic rally in 7th allows Centennial to sweep Hawks

‘Kori has grown up so much’: Lincicum hits, pitches Jags to sweep over Ankeny

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Kori Lincicum left her fingerprints all over a pair of Jaguar victories against their crosstown rival. The Ankeny Centennial junior walked off a 5-3 win with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning before tossing a four-hitter in an 8-0 shutout as the fourth-ranked Jaguars swept a doubleheader over visiting Ankeny … [Read more...] about ‘Kori has grown up so much’: Lincicum hits, pitches Jags to sweep over Ankeny

Road to state could go through Iowa City for Centennial, Ankeny baseball teams

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The road to the state tournament could potentially go through Iowa City for both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial baseball teams. Ninth-ranked Centennial (14-7) has been placed in Class 4A Substate 7 by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. The second-seeded Jaguars will host Marshalltown (6-15) in a quarterfinal game on Friday, July 11 at 7 … [Read more...] about Road to state could go through Iowa City for Centennial, Ankeny baseball teams

AHS pitchers shine, but Hawkettes drop pair of close games at No. 3 Johnston

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The Ankeny softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader on Tuesday at Johnston in familiar fashion. The third-ranked Dragons scored a run in the sixth inning to post a 3-2 victory in the first game, which was completed after being suspended due to rain on Wednesday. They then got a run in both the sixth and seventh innings to rally for a 2-1 win in … [Read more...] about AHS pitchers shine, but Hawkettes drop pair of close games at No. 3 Johnston

‘Visiting’ Hawks top Urbandale in make-up game on their home field, face Jags next

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The Ankeny baseball players felt right at home as the visiting squad on Tuesday. Playing on their home field, the Hawks scored in each of the first five innings and went on to defeat Urbandale, 7-2, in a CIML Conference game. The contest was supposed to be played at Urbandale on Monday, but was postponed due to rain. The J-Hawks then agreed to play at … [Read more...] about ‘Visiting’ Hawks top Urbandale in make-up game on their home field, face Jags next