Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Summer

‘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

‘We told ourselves to just keep working’: Lensmeyer hurls gem in win at Urbandale

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Ankeny pitcher Aubrey Lensmeyer didn't have her best changeup on Monday. Fortunately, the senior righthander didn't need it. Relying on her other pitches, Lensmeyer tossed a two-hitter and had six strikeouts to lead the Hawkettes to a 3-1 victory at Urbandale in a CIML Conference softball game. "My curve and rise were really on today," said … [Read more...] about ‘We told ourselves to just keep working’: Lensmeyer hurls gem in win at Urbandale

‘I know I’ll get great support there’: Ex-Red Raider Johnson to play for Minnesota

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Former Ankeny softball star Cassie Johnson has found a new home--and it's a lot closer to her hometown. After sitting out her freshman season at Texas Tech as a redshirt, Johnson elected to enter the transfer portal. She has now committed to play for Minnesota. "I looked at quite a few schools, but Minnesota definitely stood out to me!" said Johnson, a … [Read more...] about ‘I know I’ll get great support there’: Ex-Red Raider Johnson to play for Minnesota

Jaguars beat Ankeny at Fort Dodge Invite, then top Dodgers to earn 5th-place finish

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The second meeting between Ankeny's crosstown rivals on the softball field came a few days earlier than expected. Fourth-ranked Ankeny Centennial and Ankeny both competed in the 16-team Fort Dodge Invitational this weekend. The two squads collided in a consolation semifinal on Saturday after they both split a pair of contests on Friday, and the Jaguars … [Read more...] about Jaguars beat Ankeny at Fort Dodge Invite, then top Dodgers to earn 5th-place finish

‘We just didn’t have enough offense’: Hawks drop 5-2 decision at No. 7 Waukee

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Ankeny baseball coach Joe Balvanz continues to see signs of improvement from his team. "The defense looked great, and the pitching is coming around," said Balvanz. "We just have to find a way to be more productive consistently on offense. That can be tough against some of these teams in the CIML." The Hawks dropped a 5-2 decision on Thursday at … [Read more...] about ‘We just didn’t have enough offense’: Hawks drop 5-2 decision at No. 7 Waukee

Waukee rolls past Hawkettes in 4 innings, avenges earlier doubleheader loss

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A return to CIML Conference play has been a struggle this week for the Ankeny softball team. After winning three of four games in the John Stephens Classic last weekend at Creston, the Hawkettes dropped a 4-0 decision at then-No. 3 Valley on Monday. Then, after Wednesday's doubleheader at Johnston was rained out, Ankeny traveled to Waukee on Thursday … [Read more...] about Waukee rolls past Hawkettes in 4 innings, avenges earlier doubleheader loss

‘I wish we could’ve finished it’: Hawks fall at No. 10 Valley in rain-shortened game

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Despite not giving up a run, Valley lefthander Dane Gosselink needed 87 pitches to get through five innings in Monday's baseball game against visiting Ankeny. Due to the pitch count limit, the junior likely would have only been able to throw one more inning at that pace. Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz was hoping that his team could get into the Tigers' … [Read more...] about ‘I wish we could’ve finished it’: Hawks fall at No. 10 Valley in rain-shortened game

‘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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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

‘We’re just really starting to trust the process’: Hawkettes finish 3-1 at Creston

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

‘Our inexperience hurt us’: Wolves use late rally to complete sweep over Ankeny

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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