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Former Ankeny infielder Lewis transfers from Morehead State to James Madison

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Former Ankeny softball standout Kendra Lewis has committed to play for James Madison University. Lewis, a third baseman and shortstop, is coming off a breakout season at Morehead State, where she earned all-OVC second-team honors as a sophomore. She will have two years of eligibility remaining. Lewis entered the transfer portal after starting all 49 … [Read more...] about Former Ankeny infielder Lewis transfers from Morehead State to James Madison

Hawks fall twice at No. 3 Johnston, gear up for substate opener at No. 7 Indianola

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After entering the week with a seven-game winning streak, the Ankeny baseball team is now on a five-game losing skid. And with the postseason set to begin in less than 48 hours, the Hawks can't afford another loss. Ankeny closed out the regular season on Wednesday with a make-up doubleheader at third-ranked Johnston, which rallied for an 8-7 victory in … [Read more...] about Hawks fall twice at No. 3 Johnston, gear up for substate opener at No. 7 Indianola

Hawks drop 7-1 decision at North Polk, will head to Johnston next for 2 games

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The North Polk baseball team used a six-run outburst in the fourth inning to break a 1-1 tie and went on to defeat visiting Ankeny, 7-1, in a non-conference game on Tuesday. The Hawks dropped to 14-22 overall with their third straight loss. North Polk raised its record to 19-11. Kinnick Vos doubled and walked twice for Ankeny, which had just four hits … [Read more...] about Hawks drop 7-1 decision at North Polk, will head to Johnston next for 2 games

Hawkettes rally from 9-2 deficit, defeat Valley on Nelson’s walk-off double in 8th

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It would not have been ideal for the Ankeny softball team to enter regional play on a seven-game losing skid. A dramatic rally in the first game of Monday's doubleheader against fourth-ranked Valley allowed the Hawkettes to avoid that scenario. Ankeny overcame a 9-2 deficit on its home field and got a walk-off double from Avery Nelson in the bottom of … [Read more...] about Hawkettes rally from 9-2 deficit, defeat Valley on Nelson’s walk-off double in 8th

No. 8 Valley snaps Hawks’ winning streak, moves closer to CIML Conference crown

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The Valley baseball team moved closer to the CIML Conference title by sweeping a doubleheader on Monday at Ankeny. The eighth-ranked Tigers posted a 3-2 victory in the opener, then completed the sweep with a 12-3 win. They snapped Ankeny's seven-game winning streak in the process. "Valley has a good number of arms who do a really nice job," said Ankeny … [Read more...] about No. 8 Valley snaps Hawks’ winning streak, moves closer to CIML Conference crown

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Brady Carter, Ankeny baseball

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Senior catcher Brady Carter has helped the Ankeny baseball team to a 14-19 record, including an 8-12 mark in the CIML Conference. The Hawks are currently riding a seven-game winning streak. Carter is batting .287 with five doubles and a team-high 20 RBIs. He doubled and drove in three runs as the Hawks celebrated their Senior Night with a 6-5 victory over … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Brady Carter, Ankeny baseball

‘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