Ankeny Fanatic

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Baseball

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

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Austin Coyne, Ankeny baseball

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Austin Coyne is a member of the Ankeny baseball team. The senior pitcher has compiled a 1-1 record with one save in 14 appearances. The lefthander leads the Hawks with a 1.70 ERA. "Austin does a great job of leading by example and understanding his role," said Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz. "He has come through in some really tough spots for us on the … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Austin Coyne, Ankeny baseball

Hawks rough up Riders, get no-hitter from Brecht and advance to state

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Brody Brecht's teammates gave him a five-run cushion before he even took the mound on Wednesday night. Then they just kept adding to the lead. After scoring five runs in the top of the first inning, the Ankeny baseball team added four runs in the second and seven more in the third to support Brecht's four-inning no-hitter as the Hawks rolled to a 16-0 … [Read more...] about Hawks rough up Riders, get no-hitter from Brecht and advance to state

‘We have faith in each other’: Brecht, Spear power Hawks past Mason City

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The rankings and the seedings--not to mention the records of both teams--suggested that Mason City was a better baseball squad than Ankeny. Monday's Class 4A substate semifinal at Roosevelt Field suggested otherwise. The visiting Hawks broke open a tie game with a four-run fifth inning and went on to defeat 10th-ranked Mason City, 9-2, in a Substate 2 … [Read more...] about ‘We have faith in each other’: Brecht, Spear power Hawks past Mason City

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Chris Spear, Ankeny baseball

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Senior pitcher Chris Spear has helped the Ankeny baseball team to a 19-17 record. He has compiled a 3-5 mark with a 4.46 ERA and 43 strikeouts. Spear came on in relief to earn his first save of the season on Friday. He got the final three outs as the Hawks defeated visiting Fort Dodge, 6-5, in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal. Here is some inside info … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Chris Spear, Ankeny baseball

Hawks survive and advance, will play at No. 10 Mason City on Monday

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Survive and advance. That's what the postseason is all about for Chris Spear and the Ankeny baseball team. Spear got the final three outs after replacing Brody Brecht on the mound and the Hawks held on to defeat visiting Fort Dodge, 6-5, in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal on Friday. "It feels amazing," said Spear, who picked up his first save of … [Read more...] about Hawks survive and advance, will play at No. 10 Mason City on Monday

Hawks pound Hoover twice to close out regular season

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The Ankeny baseball team closed out the regular season on Monday with a pair of five-inning victories over visiting Des Moines Hoover. The Hawks used a five-run fourth inning to post a 13-0 win in the opener. They then erupted for eight runs in the second inning en route to a 14-0 triumph in the nightcap. The sweep assures Ankeny of finishing the … [Read more...] about Hawks pound Hoover twice to close out regular season

Jaguars deliver knockout blow, sweep season series against Ankeny

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Ankeny Centennial's Cory Prange was looking for a pitch that he could drive. He never got one. Prange walked on four straight pitches from Ankeny reliever Cooper Cox to force in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the seventh-ranked Jaguars a 4-3 victory and a sweep of Thursday's CIML Central Conference baseball … [Read more...] about Jaguars deliver knockout blow, sweep season series against Ankeny

Hawks drop both games at Marshalltown, fall to 16-15 on season

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After dropping a 6-1 decision in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday at Marshalltown, the Ankeny baseball team appeared to be on its way to a split after jumping out to a 5-1 lead in the nightcap. It didn't turn out that way. Marshalltown rallied for seven runs in the fourth inning, then added three more in the fifth to post an … [Read more...] about Hawks drop both games at Marshalltown, fall to 16-15 on season

Hawks get another walk-off win, hand Gilbert just its 3rd loss of season

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For the second night in a row, the Ankeny baseball team walked off with a win over a ranked opponent. The Hawks scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat Gilbert, 2-1, in a non-conference game on Tuesday. Gilbert, the No. 6 team in Class 3A, lost for only the third time in 24 games this season. Ankeny improved its record to 16-13. The … [Read more...] about Hawks get another walk-off win, hand Gilbert just its 3rd loss of season

Hawks earn another split against No. 1 Johnston on Lyons’ walk-off double

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Evan Lyons stepped to the plate on Monday night with a chance to be the hero. The Ankeny senior came through with his second walk-off hit of the season. Lyons ripped a one-out double to the gap in left-center field to drive in three runs and give the Hawks an 8-7 victory over top-ranked Johnston in the nightcap of a CIML Central Conference baseball … [Read more...] about Hawks earn another split against No. 1 Johnston on Lyons’ walk-off double

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Evan Lyons, Ankeny baseball

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Senior catcher Evan Lyons has helped the Ankeny baseball team to a 14-12 record, including an 8-8 mark in the CIML Central Conference. Lyons is batting .217 with one home run, six doubles and 13 RBIs. He also boasts a .986 fielding percentage. Here is some inside info on Lyons: How is the season going thus far? As a young team we still have … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Evan Lyons, Ankeny baseball