Ankeny Fanatic

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Baseball

Boyd’s blast, Bauer’s walk-off single allow Hawks to split with No. 2 Johnston

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Anytime a pitcher gets ahead in the count, it becomes increasingly difficult for the batter to get a hit. Ankeny's Jase Bauer and Cael Boyd proved on Monday that it's not always the case. Bauer hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning--on a no-ball, two-strike pitch--to give the fifth-ranked Ankeny baseball team a 5-4 victory over No. 2 … [Read more...] about Boyd’s blast, Bauer’s walk-off single allow Hawks to split with No. 2 Johnston

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Mo Watson, Ankeny baseball

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Senior catcher Mo Watson has helped the second-ranked Ankeny baseball team to an 8-4 record. He is batting .344 with three doubles, one triple and nine RBIs. Watson was also a standout last fall on the football field, where the linebacker made 53 tackles while helping the Hawks reach the Class 4A quarterfinals. He was an all-district second-team pick for … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Mo Watson, Ankeny baseball

‘I think we’re going to keep rolling now’: Somers sparks sweep with walk-off hit

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The Ankeny baseball players may have violated one of the social distancing guidelines on Friday. But in the Hawks' defense, they had a good reason to do so. Kade Somers hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning to give second-ranked Ankeny a 2-1 victory over No. 5 Waukee in the first game of a CIML doubleheader. The host Hawks then … [Read more...] about ‘I think we’re going to keep rolling now’: Somers sparks sweep with walk-off hit

Hawks end three-game slide, earn split with 13-6 victory over Valley

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With a No. 2 ranking in Class 4A, the Ankeny baseball team entered the season with some high expectations. The Hawks have placed a lot of pressure on themselves to meet those expectations--and haven't always succeeded. Wednesday's doubleheader at Valley may have been a turning point for coach Joe Balvanz and his players. After Ankeny suffered its third … [Read more...] about Hawks end three-game slide, earn split with 13-6 victory over Valley

No. 3 S.E. Polk walks off with sweep over No. 2 Hawks

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The schedule got a lot tougher for the Ankeny baseball team on Monday night. The second-ranked Hawks discovered that they still have a lot of work to do. Ankeny traveled to No. 3 Southeast Polk for a CIML doubleheader and got swept by the undefeated Rams, 8-1 and 7-6. "They exposed some things that we need to work on," said Ankeny coach Joe … [Read more...] about No. 3 S.E. Polk walks off with sweep over No. 2 Hawks

Rinderknecht tosses 1-hit gem in opener of Hawks’ sweep over Hoover

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Bryce Rinderknecht was anxious to get back on the mound following a tough loss on Wednesday. The Ankeny senior got another chance to pitch less than 48 hours later--and he made the most of it. Rinderknecht tossed a one-hitter and had 10 strikeouts to lead the second-ranked Hawks to a 4-0 victory over visiting Des Moines Hoover in the first game of a … [Read more...] about Rinderknecht tosses 1-hit gem in opener of Hawks’ sweep over Hoover

Hawks rally past Ottumwa in opener, then Bulldogs return favor in nightcap

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Wednesday's doubleheader between the Ankeny and Ottumwa baseball teams featured a pair of five-run rallies in the seventh inning--one by each squad. After the second-ranked Hawks battled back for a 6-3 victory in the opener, the host Bulldogs returned the favor in the nightcap by rallying for an 8-7 win that handed Ankeny (3-1) its first loss of the … [Read more...] about Hawks rally past Ottumwa in opener, then Bulldogs return favor in nightcap

Fulk, Andrews toss back-to-back gems in Ankeny’s sweep over Bobcats

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Mo Watson and his teammates on the Ankeny baseball squad are going to relish every minute on the field this summer. The second-ranked Hawks showed off their potential Monday by sweeping a pair of five-inning games in their season opener at Marshalltown. They roughed up the Bobcats by scores of 19-0 and 11-0. "Ever since we got the word that we could … [Read more...] about Fulk, Andrews toss back-to-back gems in Ankeny’s sweep over Bobcats

Talented Ankeny baseball team expects to win ‘night in and night out’

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The Ankeny baseball players are just happy to be back on the field. The Hawks will open their season on Monday with a doubleheader at Marshalltown. It's the start of an abbreviated campaign that consists of just 27 games due to the COVID-19 outbreak that forced the cancellation of all spring high school activities. "They understand that this is a … [Read more...] about Talented Ankeny baseball team expects to win ‘night in and night out’

Summer sports athletes preparing for return to field with precautions

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Jasmine Rumley wasn't sure if she'd get another chance to wear her Ankeny softball uniform. Now, it appears that she will. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced last week that summer athletic seasons may be conducted for high school baseball and softball following a two-month suspension of activities due to the coronavirus. Practices will begin on June … [Read more...] about Summer sports athletes preparing for return to field with precautions

‘PLAY BALL!’: Gov. Reynolds approves high school summer sports

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The suspension of high school athletics due to COVID-19 will come to an end next month. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced on Wednesday at her daily press briefing that summer athletic seasons may be conducted for high school baseball and softball following a two-month activities suspension due to the coronavirus. The announcement approved the … [Read more...] about ‘PLAY BALL!’: Gov. Reynolds approves high school summer sports

Ex-Ankeny battery of Voigt, Anderberg to return for 2021 baseball season

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Greg Anderberg wears No. 7 on his George Washington University baseball uniform. His former Ankeny teammate, Jack Voigt, wears the same number for his squad at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. That isn't the only thing that the duo has in common. Both Anderberg and Voigt played two seasons of junior college baseball before moving on to … [Read more...] about Ex-Ankeny battery of Voigt, Anderberg to return for 2021 baseball season

Ankeny’s Juhl commits to play baseball next year at Simpson College

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It remains to be seen if the Ankeny baseball team will have a season this summer. At least senior Lucas Juhl knows where he'll be playing next year. Juhl has committed to play for Simpson College. He revealed his decision on Monday via Twitter. "I'm excited to announce my commitment to Simpson College to continue my academic and baseball career," … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Juhl commits to play baseball next year at Simpson College

Brecht earns Preseason all-American honors from Rawlings, Perfect Game

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Ankeny junior Brody Brecht has received a prestigious honor on the baseball field, even though it appears that football will be his future sport. Brecht, who recently announced that he will choose between scholarship offers from the Iowa and Iowa State football programs, has been named a third team Preseason Underclass all-American as an outfielder. The … [Read more...] about Brecht earns Preseason all-American honors from Rawlings, Perfect Game

Ankeny two-sport star Brecht narrows his list of schools to Iowa, Iowa State

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Ankeny football and baseball star Brody Brecht has decided to stay close to home. The junior wide receiver and hard-throwing pitcher announced on Twitter Thursday that he has narrowed his list of schools to Iowa and Iowa State. "Appreciate all the schools who have believed in me, but I will be focusing on these two," Brecht tweeted. Iowa's football … [Read more...] about Ankeny two-sport star Brecht narrows his list of schools to Iowa, Iowa State

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Cael Boyd, Ankeny baseball

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Sophomore outfielder Cael Boyd helped the Ankeny baseball team to a 21-18 record this season. The Hawks advanced to the Class 4A state tournament before losing to top-ranked Johnston, 6-0, in the quarterfinals on Wednesday at Principal Park. Boyd batted .342 with six doubles and 16 RBIs. He set a single-season school record with 34 stolen bases. Here … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Cael Boyd, Ankeny baseball

Ankeny’s first state tourney appearance since 2013 ends with 6-0 loss to Dragons

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Johnston baseball coach Michael Barta wasn't excited about his team's matchup against CIML Central Conference rival Ankeny in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state tournament at Principal Park. Barta knew the Hawks were a dangerous No. 8 seed. "(Ankeny's Joe) Balvanz is a great coach," Barta said. "They have tremendous talent--(Brody) Brecht shut us … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s first state tourney appearance since 2013 ends with 6-0 loss to Dragons