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Baseball

Jaguars earn No. 1 seed in Substate 4, while Hawks are No. 4 seed in Substate 2

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The Ankeny Centennial baseball team has earned a No. 1 seed for postseason play, while Ankeny has been awarded a No. 4 seed and will have to hit the road. The fourth-ranked Jaguars (22-8) are in Class 4A Substate 4 and will host Marshalltown (4-25) in a quarterfinal game on Friday, July 12 at 7 p.m. With a win, coach Mark Hey's team would receive a bye in … [Read more...] about Jaguars earn No. 1 seed in Substate 4, while Hawks are No. 4 seed in Substate 2

Hawks get early homer from Clevidence, but Waukee NW rallies for 8-5 triumph

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An early 2-0 lead evaporated quickly for the Ankeny baseball team on Monday as the Hawks dropped an 8-5 decision at ninth-ranked Waukee Northwest. After Ankeny's Jack Clevidence hit a two-run homer in the top of the first inning, Northwest answered with three runs in the second, two in the third and one in the fourth to build a 6-2 advantage. The Wolves … [Read more...] about Hawks get early homer from Clevidence, but Waukee NW rallies for 8-5 triumph

‘It was fun competing against them’: Hawks outlast ACA in crosstown battle

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After dropping a 12-4 decision to Sioux City Heelan in the Brent Prange Classic on Saturday, the Ankeny baseball team rebounded with a 4-2 victory over Ankeny Christian Academy in a crosstown battle. Jack Clevidence scored the tying run in the sixth inning and later drove in an insurance run for the Hawks, who improved to 13-19 on the season. He went … [Read more...] about ‘It was fun competing against them’: Hawks outlast ACA in crosstown battle

Hawks rally for 9-8 victory in 8 innings, salvage twinbill split at No. 10 S.E. Polk

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The Ankeny baseball team salvaged a split of Thursday's doubleheader at 10th-ranked Southeast Polk to remain a half-game behind the Rams in the CIML Conference standings. After Southeast Polk posted a 4-2 win in the opener, the Hawks rallied for a 9-8 victory in eight innings in the nightcap. It was their third triumph in four extra-inning games this … [Read more...] about Hawks rally for 9-8 victory in 8 innings, salvage twinbill split at No. 10 S.E. Polk

‘It’s hard to win over there’: Hawks salvage split at No. 4 Johnston with 8-7 victory

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This year's edition of the Ankeny baseball team isn't the most talented squad that Joe Balvanz has coached during his tenure with the Hawks. But it might be one of the grittiest. Ankeny bounced back from a 15-11 loss at fourth-ranked Johnston on Monday with an 8-7 victory in the second game of a doubleheader. The Hawks snapped their three-game losing … [Read more...] about ‘It’s hard to win over there’: Hawks salvage split at No. 4 Johnston with 8-7 victory

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Carson Riggs, Ankeny baseball

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Senior infielder Carson Riggs has helped the Ankeny baseball team to a 10-16 record. He is batting .290 with three doubles and 14 RBIs for the Hawks, who will travel to Johnston on Monday for a CIML Conference doubleheader against the fourth-ranked Dragons. Riggs is headed to Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville to play for the Lakers in the … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Carson Riggs, Ankeny baseball

Linn-Mar snaps Hawks’ winning streak, extends its own to 8 games with sweep

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One of the state's hottest baseball teams visited Ankeny on Friday for a non-conference doubleheader and swept the Hawks. Linn-Mar (Marion) posted a 12-2 victory in six innings in the opener, snapping Ankeny's three-game winning streak. The Lions then completed the sweep with an 8-4 win. Linn-Mar (16-6) has won its last eight games by a combined margin … [Read more...] about Linn-Mar snaps Hawks’ winning streak, extends its own to 8 games with sweep

Hawks edge Waukee as trio combines on 1-hitter, Irlmeier delivers 2-run single

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A slow start this season knocked the Ankeny baseball team out of CIML Conference title contention right away. But that doesn't mean the Hawks can't be a factor in the race. Three Ankeny pitchers combined on a one-hitter as the Hawks posted a 2-1 victory over visiting Waukee on Thursday. It was the third straight loss for the fifth-ranked Warriors, who … [Read more...] about Hawks edge Waukee as trio combines on 1-hitter, Irlmeier delivers 2-run single

‘They can play that way all the time’: Hawks erupt for 24 runs, sweep Dowling

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Wednesday's doubleheader at 10th-ranked Dowling Catholic might have been a turning point for the Ankeny baseball team. The Hawks used a seven-run eighth inning to post a 12-5 victory in the first game, then erupted for 11 runs in the first inning of the nightcap and went on to complete a sweep with a 12-2 win in five innings. "I hope it's a confidence … [Read more...] about ‘They can play that way all the time’: Hawks erupt for 24 runs, sweep Dowling

Hawks drop 3-2 decision at Valley despite quality start, 3 hits from Clevidence

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The Ankeny baseball team got a quality start from senior righthander Jack Clevidence, but it wasn't enough to produce a victory on Monday at Valley. After the Hawks took a 2-0 lead in the third inning, Valley answered with three runs in the fourth and then held on for a 3-2 win to snap a six-game losing streak. The Tigers improved to 2-7 in the CIML … [Read more...] about Hawks drop 3-2 decision at Valley despite quality start, 3 hits from Clevidence

Hawks erupt for season-high 16 runs in five-inning victory over Davenport West

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The Ankeny baseball team bounced back from a 7-5 loss to Davenport Central with a 16-1 victory over Davenport West in five innings on Saturday at Davenport. The Hawks are now 7-13 on the season after splitting the non-conference games. "I was glad to come back with a win, but I was certainly hoping for two," said Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz. Ankeny had … [Read more...] about Hawks erupt for season-high 16 runs in five-inning victory over Davenport West

Hawks rally from 10-0 deficit to beat Urbandale, snap 6-game losing streak

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Desperate for a win, the Ankeny baseball team refused to quit. Trailing 10-0 in the second game of a doubleheader on Thursday at Urbandale, the Hawks were three outs away from a run-rule loss that would have stretched their losing streak to seven games. Ankeny extended the contest by scoring three runs in the fifth inning and added five more in the … [Read more...] about Hawks rally from 10-0 deficit to beat Urbandale, snap 6-game losing streak

‘Our team responded pretty well’: Jags overcome rain delay to edge Ankeny, 4-3

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The surging Ankeny Centennial baseball team continued its winning ways on Wednesday. The Jaguars' latest victory came at the expense of their crosstown rival. Sean Stewart and Colton Arndt combined on a seven-hitter as the fourth-ranked Jaguars posted a 4-3 win at Ankeny in a CIML Conference game that was briefly delayed by rain in the fourth … [Read more...] about ‘Our team responded pretty well’: Jags overcome rain delay to edge Ankeny, 4-3

‘We’re just not scoring enough runs’: Hawks struggle at plate, fall twice to NW

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It's too early for the Ankeny baseball team to panic. The Hawks just need to get their bats going. Ankeny dropped both ends of a CIML Conference doubleheader against visiting Waukee Northwest on Monday. The ninth-ranked Wolves posted a 6-2 victory in the opener before completing the sweep with a 4-1 win. "I didn't think either of their starters was … [Read more...] about ‘We’re just not scoring enough runs’: Hawks struggle at plate, fall twice to NW

Irlmeier stays hot, but S.E. Polk uses 5-run 4th inning to post 6-4 win over Hawks

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The seventh-ranked Southeast Polk baseball team used a five-run fourth inning to erase a 3-1 deficit and went on to beat host Ankeny, 6-4, in a CIML Conference game on Friday. The Hawks lost despite another big night from junior outfielder Evan Irlmeier, who went 3-for-3 for the second straight game and drove in a pair of runs. After a slow start to the … [Read more...] about Irlmeier stays hot, but S.E. Polk uses 5-run 4th inning to post 6-4 win over Hawks

Two-time defending champs top Ankeny, extend their winning streak to 21 games

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The Ankeny baseball team allowed just six hits in a game against visiting Johnston on Thursday. But the top-ranked Dragons took advantage of six walks and six hit by pitches to post a 7-3 victory, extending their winning streak to 21 games dating back to last season. "We gave them 12 or 13 free bases, and that's an experienced lineup of juniors and … [Read more...] about Two-time defending champs top Ankeny, extend their winning streak to 21 games

Gerstel, Davies toss back-to-back shutouts in Hawks’ sweep at Ames

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A road trip to Ames resulted in back-to-back shutouts for the Ankeny baseball team on Wednesday. The Hawks posted a 12-0 victory in the opener, then completed a sweep of the non-conference doubleheader with a 9-0 win. They improved to 5-6 overall. "The boys played pretty well tonight," said Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz. "We turned like three or four double … [Read more...] about Gerstel, Davies toss back-to-back shutouts in Hawks’ sweep at Ames

Hawks rally past Davenport North, but then fall to North Polk at Heggen Invite

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The Ankeny baseball team rallied for a 10-8 victory over Davenport North before dropping a 4-2 decision to North Polk in the Tim Heggen Invitational on Saturday. The Hawks used a seven-run fifth inning to erase a 5-3 deficit against Davenport North (4-2). The Wildcats had taken the lead with a five-run fourth. "We responded to their big inning with a 7 … [Read more...] about Hawks rally past Davenport North, but then fall to North Polk at Heggen Invite

Hawks use 3-run 7th inning to beat Waukee, but Warriors salvage split

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The Ankeny baseball team scored three runs in the seventh inning to post a 7-4 victory in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday at Waukee. The Warriors then followed with a 6-2 win in the nightcap to earn a split of the twinbill. They are now 2-1 in the CIML Conference and 4-2 overall, while Ankeny's records are 1-2 and 2-5. "We didn't play … [Read more...] about Hawks use 3-run 7th inning to beat Waukee, but Warriors salvage split