Brett Delaney's return to Ankeny High School got off to a rocky start. Franie Burnett's aggressiveness on the basepaths helped to make sure that Delaney's night had a happy ending. Burnett reached base on an error, stole second and scored on an infield hit by Taylor Runchey in the eighth inning to give the 15th-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team a … [Read more...] about Hawkettes knock rival out of first place, but Centennial rebounds to earn split
Summer
Hawks take 4-game winning streak into doubleheader against No. 8 Centennial
Ankeny baseball coach Joe Balvanz has tried to downplay the significance of Monday's doubleheader against visiting Ankeny Centennial. But he knows his message is falling on deaf ears. "You can try to talk them down all you want, but the kids get really fired up for this," Balvanz said. "It really should be like playing Johnston or Waukee, but we all … [Read more...] about Hawks take 4-game winning streak into doubleheader against No. 8 Centennial
‘We’re like one big family’: Hawkettes to host twinbill against Delaney’s Jaguars
There won't be many secrets on Monday night when Ankeny's crosstown rivals collide on the softball field. Ankeny Centennial coach Brett Delaney spent the previous six seasons as an assistant under Ankeny coach Dave Bingham. He helped the Hawkettes to a 153-98 record from 2013-18, including a pair of trips to the state tournament. Delaney will now visit … [Read more...] about ‘We’re like one big family’: Hawkettes to host twinbill against Delaney’s Jaguars
Rumley blasts 3 homers, leads Ankeny to 2 wins at Fort Dodge Invitational
When Jasmine Rumley gets into a zone at the plate, opposing hurlers might want to consider pitching around her. Rumley hit three home runs on Friday as the Ankeny softball team won a pair of slugfests at the Fort Dodge Invitational to advance to Saturday's semifinals. However, the rest of the tournament was eventually called off due to rain. Rumley … [Read more...] about Rumley blasts 3 homers, leads Ankeny to 2 wins at Fort Dodge Invitational
Hawks notch rare win at Valley behind Brecht’s solid outing, Boyd’s 5 steals
When Cael Boyd, Brody Brecht and the Ankeny football team played at Valley in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs last fall, it ended with a heartbreaking loss for the Hawks. Boyd and Brecht returned to Valley on Friday with the Ankeny baseball squad. This time, the ending was much happier. The two sophomores both played huge roles as Ankeny … [Read more...] about Hawks notch rare win at Valley behind Brecht’s solid outing, Boyd’s 5 steals
Hawkettes top Clarke, head to Fort Dodge for weekend tournament
The Ankeny softball team is spending a lot of time on the road this week. After splitting a doubleheader on Wednesday at Ames, the Hawkettes traveled to Clarke (Osceola) on Thursday and posted a 7-4 victory in a non-conference game. Now, the team will head back north for the Fort Dodge Invitational on Friday and Saturday. Ankeny coach Dave Bingham is … [Read more...] about Hawkettes top Clarke, head to Fort Dodge for weekend tournament
Johnson gets a save, helps Hawks to sweep Ames baseball team
The Ankeny baseball team was already relying on several sophomores this season. Now you can add another one to the list. Sophomore pitcher Will Johnson made his varsity debut during the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader at Ames, then came back in during the nightcap and earned a save as the Hawks completed a sweep of the twinbill with a 7-6 … [Read more...] about Johnson gets a save, helps Hawks to sweep Ames baseball team
Hawkettes rally for 10-7 victory, earn doubleheader split at Ames
After splitting a doubleheader on Wednesday at Ames, the Ankeny softball team is going to get back to work. "We're going to practice before our game on Thursday (at Clarke of Osceola)," said Ankeny coach Dave Bingham. "Our goal is to outwork people. We'll get better." Ames posted a 3-2 victory in the first game of the twinbill. The Hawkettes then … [Read more...] about Hawkettes rally for 10-7 victory, earn doubleheader split at Ames
Hawks earn split against Urbandale on Fulk’s walk-off blast in 10th inning
For most of the night, the Urbandale baseball team pitched around Ankeny's Brody Brecht in order to face the Hawks' other hitters. That strategy backfired in a big way Monday in the second game of a doubleheader at Ankeny. Weston Fulk hit a walk-off, three-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Hawks a 13-10 victory and a split of the … [Read more...] about Hawks earn split against Urbandale on Fulk’s walk-off blast in 10th inning
Jacobsen’s gem allows Hawkettes to split twinbill against Urbandale
Paige Jacobsen picked a good time to have her best game of the season. The senior righthander tossed a four-hitter to lead the Ankeny softball team to a 3-1 victory over visiting Urbandale in the second game of a doubleheader on Monday. It allowed the Hawkettes to split the twinbill after losing the opener, 5-4. Jacobsen raised her record to 2-3 on the … [Read more...] about Jacobsen’s gem allows Hawkettes to split twinbill against Urbandale
Baker, Voigt lead Hawkettes to wins over Burlington, Creston
If the Ankeny softball team is going to have a successful season, Zoe Baker and Anna Voigt will likely have to play key roles for the Hawkettes. The two seniors came up big on Friday as Ankeny posted a pair of victories at the Creston Invitational. The Hawkettes rallied for a 9-7 win over Burlington and also defeated Creston, 5-3, to raise their record to … [Read more...] about Baker, Voigt lead Hawkettes to wins over Burlington, Creston
Waukee records back-to-back walk-off victories against Hawks
The Ankeny baseball team had a chance to win both games of Thursday's doubleheader at Waukee. Instead, the sixth-ranked Warriors came away with a pair of walk-off victories. Waukee swept the twinbill by scores of 3-2 and 4-3 to improve to 9-2 on the season. No. 9 Ankeny's record dropped to 4-4. "We played really well except for the seventh … [Read more...] about Waukee records back-to-back walk-off victories against Hawks
No. 5 Waukee softball team sweeps Hawkettes to remain unbeaten
The Ankeny softball team ran into a buzzsaw on Thursday at Waukee. The fifth-ranked Warriors remained unbeaten by sweeping a doubleheader, 9-2 and 7-3. They lifted their record to 11-0 on the season, while Ankeny dropped to 1-5. Waukee is averaging nearly 10 runs per game. "They didn't really pound the ball," Ankeny coach Dave Bingham said of the … [Read more...] about No. 5 Waukee softball team sweeps Hawkettes to remain unbeaten
Hawks ‘turn the page’ after splitting doubleheader against Roosevelt
Ankeny baseball coach Joe Balvanz doesn't want his players to get too excited after a win. He also doesn't want them to dwell too long on a loss. Wednesday's doubleheader against visiting Des Moines Roosevelt was a perfect example of both of those scenarios. The ninth-ranked Hawks posted an 8-4 victory in the first game of the twinbill. They then … [Read more...] about Hawks ‘turn the page’ after splitting doubleheader against Roosevelt
Hawkettes hold off Dowling for their first win of the season
The Ankeny softball team finally got the monkey off its back. After losing a late lead in each of their previous three games, the Hawkettes built an 8-2 advantage over visiting Dowling Catholic on Tuesday and then held on to beat the Maroons, 10-6, for their first win of the season. "I think we've been playing some great softball," said Ankeny coach … [Read more...] about Hawkettes hold off Dowling for their first win of the season
Dowling’s Baumler overpowers Hawks, tosses 1-hitter in Maroons’ 3-1 victory
The Ankeny baseball team didn't have an answer for Dowling Catholic pitcher Carter Baumler. Baumler tossed a one-hitter and had 12 strikeouts to lead the fifth-ranked Maroons to a 3-1 victory at Ankeny in the CIML Central Conference opener for both teams on Monday. The game was shortened to six innings due to rain, and the second game of the doubleheader … [Read more...] about Dowling’s Baumler overpowers Hawks, tosses 1-hitter in Maroons’ 3-1 victory
Hawks romp past Burlington, Davenport North to improve their record to 3-0
Ankeny baseball coach Joe Balvanz doesn't have much to complain about. The Hawks rolled to a pair of victories in the Tim Heggen Invitational on Saturday at Ankeny Centennial and have now outscored their first three opponents by a 32-1 margin. "It's been an interesting start to the season," said Balvanz. "We played a game (at Saydel on May 23), then we … [Read more...] about Hawks romp past Burlington, Davenport North to improve their record to 3-0
Hawkettes let late lead slip away again in loss to Pella
For the second game in a row, the Ankeny softball team let a seventh-inning lead slip away. Visiting Pella, the No. 15 team in Class 4A, rallied for three runs in the seventh to post an 8-7 victory on Thursday. The game was a late addition to the schedule after Tuesday's doubleheader at Waukee was rained out. The Hawkettes (0-2) had not played since … [Read more...] about Hawkettes let late lead slip away again in loss to Pella
Boyd sparks Ankeny baseball team to season-opening victory
Cael Boyd appears to be a perfect fit for the leadoff hitter's role on the Ankeny baseball team. Boyd sparked the Hawks to a 13-0 victory at Saydel in five innings in their season opener on Thursday. The sophomore outfielder went 2-for-2 with a double, walked twice, stole three bases and scored four runs. "Cael did a really nice job of setting the … [Read more...] about Boyd sparks Ankeny baseball team to season-opening victory
Ballard rallies for 5 runs in 7th inning, spoils Hawkettes’ season opener
When the Ankeny softball team erupted for eight runs in the first inning of Wednesday's game against visiting Ballard, it looked like the Hawkettes were going to roll to a season-opening victory. But the Bombers refused to go away. Ballard scored four runs in the third inning, then rallied for five more in the seventh to post a 10-9 victory. Catcher … [Read more...] about Ballard rallies for 5 runs in 7th inning, spoils Hawkettes’ season opener