Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Summer

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

Rumley, Voigt unanimously named to first team; Three Jags also honored

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Ankeny softball standout Jasmine Rumley has been named to the CIML Central Conference first team for the second straight year. Rumley, a junior third baseman, was named to an infield position. She batted .493 with 10 home runs, 14 doubles and 36 RBIs while leading the Hawkettes to a 20-19 record. Rumley, who also stole 39 bases in 40 attempts, was … [Read more...] about Rumley, Voigt unanimously named to first team; Three Jags also honored

Hawkettes go toe-to-toe with No. 2 Fort Dodge, but upset bid falls short

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The Ankeny softball players exited the field at Rogers Sports Complex to a round of applause from their fans on Tuesday night. The Hawkettes didn't get the outcome they wanted in a Class 5A regional final at Fort Dodge, but they proved that they belonged on the same field with one of the state's top teams. Second-ranked Fort Dodge used a three-run … [Read more...] about Hawkettes go toe-to-toe with No. 2 Fort Dodge, but upset bid falls short

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Ashtyn Billings, Ankeny softball

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Ashtyn Billings is a member of the Ankeny softball team. The freshman pitcher and outfielder helped the Hawkettes to a 20-19 record. She posted a 2-1 mark with a 2.63 ERA while also batting .268 with five RBIs. "Ashtyn is so versatile she seriously could take on any position we asked her to play," said Ankeny coach Dave Bingham. "Her greatest asset … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Ashtyn Billings, Ankeny softball

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

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Zoe Baker, Ankeny softball

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Senior catcher Zoe Baker doubled twice and drove in a run to help the Ankeny softball team to a 5-0 victory at 14th-ranked Des Moines East in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday. The Hawkettes will play at No. 2 Fort Dodge in the regional final on Tuesday. Baker is batting .325 with three home runs, 11 doubles and a team-high 45 RBIs. She will play … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Zoe Baker, Ankeny softball

Jacobsen tosses 3-hit gem, leads Hawkettes past East in tourney opener

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The beginning of postseason play provided a fresh start for the struggling Ankeny softball team. The Hawkettes, who went 1-7 to close out the regular season, didn't let the opportunity go to waste. Paige Jacobsen tossed a three-hitter and Jasmine Rumley went 3-for-3 with two RBIs to lead Ankeny to a 5-0 victory at 14th-ranked Des Moines East in a Class … [Read more...] about Jacobsen tosses 3-hit gem, leads Hawkettes past East in tourney opener

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

Hawkettes get much-needed victory to close out regular season

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Ankeny softball coach Dave Bingham said his team needed just one good inning to put an end to the Hawkettes' recent slide. He got what he was looking for on Wednesday. The Hawkettes rallied for five runs in the seventh inning to post a 9-8 victory at Cedar Rapids Xavier, the No. 11 team in Class 4A. The win followed an earlier 3-0 loss to third-ranked … [Read more...] about Hawkettes get much-needed victory to close out regular season

‘We’re getting hot at the right time’: Jaguars roll to pair of wins over Ankeny

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Ankeny Centennial's Taylor Runchey winced in pain after a hard ground ball deflected off her body during the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against visiting Ankeny. The junior third baseman refused, however, to come off the field. "No, not for a second," Runchey said when asked if she thought about leaving the game. "It just stung a little bit at … [Read more...] about ‘We’re getting hot at the right time’: Jaguars roll to pair of wins over Ankeny

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