The 15th-ranked Ankeny softball team is one of the hottest squads in the state. The Hawkettes extended their winning streak to eight games with two more victories on Saturday in the John Stevens Classic at Creston. They posted a 4-3 win over Mount Ayr, then followed with a 5-3 triumph over Knoxville--the No. 10 team in Class 4A. Ankeny, which also won … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got something special’: Hawkettes complete 8-0 week with 2 more wins
Summer
Surging Hawkettes rout Atlantic, Creston, will play two more games on Saturday
Ankeny's Kendra Winfrey punished the Creston softball team with her bat during the John Stevens Classic on Friday. The junior's left arm was a potent weapon as well. Winfrey went 4-for-4 with a home run, a double and four RBIs while also pitching four scoreless innings to lead the 15th-ranked Hawkettes to a 15-0 victory over host Creston, the No. 9 … [Read more...] about Surging Hawkettes rout Atlantic, Creston, will play two more games on Saturday
Hawks rout Marshalltown twice, remain tied for CIML Iowa Conference lead
The Ankeny baseball team remained tied for first place in the CIML Iowa Conference by sweeping a doubleheader on Wednesday at Marshalltown. The Hawks used an eight-run fifth inning to win the opener, 16-5. They then won another five-inning contest, 13-0, to complete the sweep. Ankeny improved to 8-2 in the conference and 9-6 overall. The Hawks are tied … [Read more...] about Hawks rout Marshalltown twice, remain tied for CIML Iowa Conference lead
Billings, Hawkettes sweep Marshalltown, extend winning streak to 4 games
Ashtyn Billings and the Ankeny softball team enjoyed a big day on Wednesday at Marshalltown. Billings (2-2) tossed a three-hitter and had five strikeouts to lead the Hawkettes to a 12-0 victory in six innings in the first game of a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader. She also went 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in three runs. Billings then went 4-for-4 … [Read more...] about Billings, Hawkettes sweep Marshalltown, extend winning streak to 4 games
Griess pitches Hawks to 7-5 victory before Ames rallies to win nightcap
The Ankeny baseball team was hoping to get a sweep against visiting Ames on Monday. The Hawks had to settle for a split. The Little Cyclones used a three-run rally in the sixth inning to post a 7-4 victory in the nightcap of the doubleheader, allowing them to earn a split after Ankeny won the opener, 7-5. "We let a popup fall in with two guys on … [Read more...] about Griess pitches Hawks to 7-5 victory before Ames rallies to win nightcap
‘We came out and took care of business’: Hawkettes sweep No. 13 Ames
The Ames softball team entered Monday's doubleheader at Ankeny with an 8-1 record and a No. 13 ranking in Class 5A. It has been an impressive start for the Little Cyclones, but they have yet to play any of the three top-five teams in the CIML Iowa Conference--No. 1 Waukee Northwest, No. 2 Fort Dodge and No. 5 Ankeny Centennial. The Ames players … [Read more...] about ‘We came out and took care of business’: Hawkettes sweep No. 13 Ames
Hawks sweep Centennial boys, extend winning streak against rival to 8 games
The Ankeny baseball team entered Thursday's doubleheader against visiting Ankeny Centennial on a two-game losing skid after being swept by second-ranked Dowling Catholic on Wednesday. The Jaguars were riding a three-game winning streak. Both of those trends came to an end. The Hawks continued their recent dominance of Centennial by sweeping the … [Read more...] about Hawks sweep Centennial boys, extend winning streak against rival to 8 games
Dowling Catholic hurlers shut down Hawks while posting 9-1 and 8-0 wins
With a showdown against crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial on tap for Thursday, the Ankeny baseball players can quickly put Wednesday's doubleheader against visiting Dowling Catholic behind them. The second-ranked Maroons dominated the non-conference twinbill, rolling to 9-1 and 8-0 victories. They improved to 8-2 on the season, while Ankeny's record … [Read more...] about Dowling Catholic hurlers shut down Hawks while posting 9-1 and 8-0 wins
‘Slap Squad’ ignites Hawkettes to doubleheader sweep over Mason City
The first three batters in the Ankeny softball team's lineup are all slap hitters. Ankeny coach Dave Bingham calls them "The Slap Squad". That trio of Larissa Miller, Eva Fulk and Mariah Parton ignited the Hawkettes to a doubleheader sweep over visiting Mason City on Tuesday. They combined for seven hits, six runs scored and six RBIs in the first … [Read more...] about ‘Slap Squad’ ignites Hawkettes to doubleheader sweep over Mason City
Hawks pound out 21 hits en route to pair of run-rule victories over Mason City
The Ankeny baseball team pounded out 21 hits and swept a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader against visiting Mason City on Tuesday. The Hawks posted an 11-1 victory in six innings in the opener, then completed the sweep with a 15-5 triumph in five innings. They improved to 3-1 in the conference and 4-3 overall, while Mason City's records dropped to 1-3 and … [Read more...] about Hawks pound out 21 hits en route to pair of run-rule victories over Mason City
Patton homers, Dunwoody racks up 8 strikeouts in Hawks’ 4-2 loss at Johnston
A three-run first inning lifted the top-ranked Johnston baseball team to a 4-2 victory over visiting Ankeny on Friday, allowing the Dragons to improve to 9-0 on the season. The non-conference game was a rematch of last year's Class 4A semifinal, which was won by Johnston, 5-0. The Hawks (2-3) were held to five hits by a trio of Johnston pitchers. … [Read more...] about Patton homers, Dunwoody racks up 8 strikeouts in Hawks’ 4-2 loss at Johnston
‘We made a nice jump’: Hawkettes score 4 runs in 7th to seal 7-2 win at Carlisle
The Ankeny softball team used a four-run seventh inning to seal a 7-2 victory at Carlisle in a non-conference game on Friday. The Hawkettes improved their record to 1-2 after losing both ends of a doubleheader at fifth-ranked Waukee Northwest on Monday. It was the season opener for Carlisle, the No. 9 team in Class 4A. "Carlisle and Northwest are very … [Read more...] about ‘We made a nice jump’: Hawkettes score 4 runs in 7th to seal 7-2 win at Carlisle
‘Our guys were gritty’: Hawks outlast Waukee NW in 9 innings, salvage split
The Ankeny baseball team used a late rally to post a 13-8 victory in nine innings on Monday at sixth-ranked Waukee Northwest, allowing the Hawks to salvage a split of the CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader. Ankeny scored three runs in the seventh to tie the game at 6-6 and force extra innings. After both teams scored twice in the eighth, the Hawks erupted … [Read more...] about ‘Our guys were gritty’: Hawks outlast Waukee NW in 9 innings, salvage split
Hawkettes waste 2-hitter by Billings, drop both games of twinbill at Waukee NW
After losing both games of a season-opening doubleheader at fifth-ranked Waukee Northwest on Monday, the Ankeny softball team will have a few days to regroup. The Hawkettes--who won't play again until Friday at Carlisle--dropped a 2-0 decision in the opener. Waukee Northwest then completed a sweep of the CIML Iowa Conference twinbill with a 5-3 … [Read more...] about Hawkettes waste 2-hitter by Billings, drop both games of twinbill at Waukee NW
THE LOSS OF A LEGEND: Coaching giant Rasmussen passes away at 85
The community of Ankeny has lost one of its most prominent citizens. Dick Rasmussen, the legendary softball and girls' basketball coach at Ankeny High School, passed away early Friday morning at the age of 85. "I will miss him," said current Ankeny softball coach Dave Bingham. "I love him and (his wife) Sue." Rasmussen coached at South Hamilton … [Read more...] about THE LOSS OF A LEGEND: Coaching giant Rasmussen passes away at 85
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kendra Winfrey, Ankeny girls’ track/softball
Ankeny junior Kendra Winfrey placed second in the shot put on Friday in the girls' Class 4A state track meet at Drake Stadium. She uncorked a throw of 39 feet 11 inches on her final attempt, allowing her to move up from fourth place. Winfrey helped Ankeny to a seventh-place finish overall. She contributed eight of the Hawkettes' 44.5 points. Winfrey is … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kendra Winfrey, Ankeny girls’ track/softball
Following Rasmussen’s death, Hawkettes will continue to honor program’s legacy
Ankeny softball coach Dave Bingham said he often thinks about Dick Rasmussen, the legendary coach who guided the Hawkettes to 12 state championships. Rasmussen passed away early Friday morning at the age of 85. "The legacy he and his girls created is a powerful standard that can't be measured," Bingham said. "I think about him before and after every … [Read more...] about Following Rasmussen’s death, Hawkettes will continue to honor program’s legacy
Ankeny baseball team splits twinbill at Pleasant Valley to open season
The Ankeny baseball team opened its season on Wednesday by splitting a non-conference doubleheader at eighth-ranked Pleasant Valley, the defending Class 4A state champion. The Hawks rallied for a 9-8 victory in the opener, then overcame a 6-1 deficit in the nightcap to tie it up before Pleasant Valley (1-2) posted a 9-8 win to salvage a split. "We had … [Read more...] about Ankeny baseball team splits twinbill at Pleasant Valley to open season
‘We have a lot of new faces’: The next era for Ankeny baseball begins Wednesday
A year ago, the Ankeny baseball team pounded many of its opponents with one of the state's best offensive attacks. This year's squad will rely a lot more on the Hawks' pitching staff. Ankeny returns four key pitchers from a team that posted a 32-7 record and won the CIML Iowa Conference title with a perfect 20-0 mark. Seniors Samuel Andrews, Easton … [Read more...] about ‘We have a lot of new faces’: The next era for Ankeny baseball begins Wednesday
‘What stood out about Simpson is the potential’: Schlee to play for Storm
Dylan Schlee has been a valuable member of the Ankeny pitching staff the last two seasons. Next year, he'll be taking his talents to the Simpson baseball program. Schlee has verbally committed to play for the Storm, beginning in the fall of 2022. "They see me as a guy who can come and compete for innings and provide for the team on the mound right … [Read more...] about ‘What stood out about Simpson is the potential’: Schlee to play for Storm