It's been a season of magical moments for Kennedy Thomas and the eighth-ranked Ankeny softball team. On Wednesday, Thomas delivered the most magical moment thus far. The senior slugger hit a walk-off grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Hawkettes a 9-6 victory over No. 11 Waukee in the first game of a CIML Central … [Read more...] about Magical season continues for Hawkettes with 2 extra-inning wins over Waukee
Summer
Hawks bounce back to win nightcap, earn split against Waukee
Ankeny baseball coach Joe Balvanz wanted to use both Cameron Rinker and Chris Spear on the mound during Wednesday's doubleheader against visiting Waukee. He is also hoping to get some innings out of both pitchers during Saturday's make-up twinbill against sixth-ranked Southeast Polk. The only solution was to split Wednesday's second game between the … [Read more...] about Hawks bounce back to win nightcap, earn split against Waukee
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Madison Bonner-Palmer, Ankeny softball
Madison Bonner-Palmer of the Ankeny softball team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. The senior slugger is batting .417 on the season. She has two home runs and two doubles among her 15 hits while driving in 11 runs. Bonner-Palmer has helped Ankeny to a 23-8 record and a No. 8 ranking in Class 5A. The Hawkettes will host a CIML … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Madison Bonner-Palmer, Ankeny softball
Hawkettes halt brief losing skid with 11-1 victory over Pleasantville
For the third time this season, the Ankeny softball team refused to let back-to-back losses turn into a three-game losing streak. The eighth-ranked Hawkettes rolled to an 11-1 victory over Pleasantville in five innings in their final game at the Brent Prange Classic on Saturday. They went 2-2 in the tournament and are now 22-8 on the season. "We came … [Read more...] about Hawkettes halt brief losing skid with 11-1 victory over Pleasantville
After long layoff, Hawks fall to Heelan, then roll past Bettendorf
It took awhile, but the Ankeny baseball team finally got its offense untracked during the Brent Prange Classic on Saturday. After dropping a 2-1 decision to Sioux City Heelan, the Hawks fell behind Bettendorf, 1-0, in their second game of the tournament. Ankeny scored twice in the third inning to take a 2-1 lead. The Hawks then erupted for six runs in … [Read more...] about After long layoff, Hawks fall to Heelan, then roll past Bettendorf
Bingham watches from dugout as Hawkettes sweep Dowling Catholic
Ankeny softball coach Dave Bingham has been coaching from the dugout in recent games. The way the Hawkettes played on Thursday, he may stay there for awhile. Eighth-ranked Ankeny swept a non-conference doubleheader against No. 14 Dowling Catholic at Dick Rasmussen Field to raise its overall record to 20-6. The Hawkettes posted a 6-5 victory in the … [Read more...] about Bingham watches from dugout as Hawkettes sweep Dowling Catholic
Hawkettes regain sole possession of first place on Daugherty’s walk-off single
With one swing of the bat, Malea Daugherty lifted the Ankeny softball team back into sole possession of first place in the CIML Central Conference. Daugherty hit a walk-off single with two outs in the eighth inning to give the 11th-ranked Hawkettes a 5-4 victory over No. 12 Southeast Polk in the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday at Ankeny. The … [Read more...] about Hawkettes regain sole possession of first place on Daugherty’s walk-off single
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Kennedy Thomas, Ankeny softball
Senior first baseman and pitcher Kennedy Thomas has helped the Ankeny softball team to a 17-5 record and a No. 11 ranking in Class 5A. Thomas is batting .423 with eight home runs, six doubles and 32 RBIs. On the mound, she has compiled a 4-1 mark with a 3.42 ERA. Here is some inside info on Thomas: Congratulations on a great season thus far. What … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Kennedy Thomas, Ankeny softball
Hawkettes knock off No. 1 C.R. Kennedy, finish 2nd at Fort Dodge Invitational
The Ankeny softball team was just three outs away from winning the Fort Dodge Invitational title on Saturday. Unfortunately, the host Dodgers refused to go away quietly. Tenth-ranked Fort Dodge scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally past the Hawkettes, 10-9, in the championship game of the tournament. The Dodgers (20-4) … [Read more...] about Hawkettes knock off No. 1 C.R. Kennedy, finish 2nd at Fort Dodge Invitational
Hawkettes, now ranked 11th, extend winning streak to 6 games
The Ankeny softball team moved back into the Class 5A rankings on Thursday, earning a No. 11 ranking from the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union after sweeping a doubleheader against then-No. 3 Valley on Wednesday. A few hours later, the Hawkettes extended their winning streak to six games by sweeping a non-conference twinbill against Des Moines … [Read more...] about Hawkettes, now ranked 11th, extend winning streak to 6 games
Thomas blasts 2 more HRs; Hawkettes sweep Valley for league lead
Whatever Kennedy Thomas is doing at the plate, it appears to be working. Thomas blasted two home runs in the first game of a doubleheader against third-ranked Valley on Wednesday, igniting the Ankeny softball team to a rare sweep of the visiting Tigers. The Hawkettes posted wins of 5-2 and 6-4 to move into sole possession of first place in the CIML … [Read more...] about Thomas blasts 2 more HRs; Hawkettes sweep Valley for league lead
Hawks rally past Valley in nightcap, salvage split of twinbill
The Valley baseball team had a chance to take a commanding lead in the CIML Central Conference race on Wednesday. The Tigers posted a 6-3 victory in the first game of a doubleheader at Ankeny, then jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning of the nightcap. But the Hawks refused to go away. Ankeny rallied for a 9-8 walk-off win and a split of the … [Read more...] about Hawks rally past Valley in nightcap, salvage split of twinbill
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Jake Slattery, Ankeny baseball
Jake Slattery of the Ankeny baseball team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. The senior has helped the Hawks to a 9-6 record, including a 5-3 mark in the CIML Central Conference. "Jake usually plays left field and is just a very solid defender," said Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz. "He's a defensive replacement, and he knows his job … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Jake Slattery, Ankeny baseball
Fearless Hawkettes snap 12-game losing streak against Waukee
Jasmine Rumley had no idea that the Ankeny softball team had just defeated Waukee for the first time since 2014. "Holy cow, that's awesome," said Rumley. The sophomore outfielder went 3-for-4 with a home run, a triple and four RBIs to lead the Hawkettes to a 9-5 victory at fourth-ranked Waukee on Monday. The Warriors had won 12 straight games against … [Read more...] about Fearless Hawkettes snap 12-game losing streak against Waukee
Waukee’s Sorenson, Irvine shut down Hawks en route to sweep
The Ankeny baseball team had a chance to score some early runs during Monday's doubleheader at Waukee. When the Hawks failed to capitalize on the opportunity, they never again had a similar chance to gain some momentum. The seventh-ranked Warriors posted a 2-0 victory in the opener, then completed a sweep with a 9-0 win in the second game. Both teams … [Read more...] about Waukee’s Sorenson, Irvine shut down Hawks en route to sweep
Hawkettes fall to Atlantic, beat Burlington at Creston tournament
The Ankeny softball team split a pair of games against ranked opponents on Friday at the Creston Invitational. The Hawkettes dropped a 5-4 decision to Atlantic, the No. 8 team in Class 3A. But they posted a 5-3 victory over Burlington, which is ranked 13th in Class 5A with a 19-2 record. Kennedy Thomas (1-0) tossed an eight-hitter in the win over … [Read more...] about Hawkettes fall to Atlantic, beat Burlington at Creston tournament
Jaguars end losing streak, earn split against No. 13 Ankeny
The Ankeny Centennial softball team got a much-needed victory on Thursday night. A former Centennial player helped 13th-ranked Ankeny to a 10-6 win in the first game of a CIML Central Conference doubleheader before the Jaguars rebounded with an 11-4 triumph in the nightcap at Ankeny. The win was Centennial's first against a league opponent and snapped … [Read more...] about Jaguars end losing streak, earn split against No. 13 Ankeny
Casel tosses 3-hitter, leads Hawks to split at Southeast Polk
Ankeny lefthander Will Casel recorded only one strikeout during the first game of a CIML Central Conference baseball doubleheader on Monday at Southeast Polk. But the senior was still very effective. Casel tossed a three-hitter and retired 13 batters on fly balls as the Hawks extended their winning streak to seven games with a 3-2 victory in the opener … [Read more...] about Casel tosses 3-hitter, leads Hawks to split at Southeast Polk
Smith’s RBI double ignites Hawkettes to split against S.E. Polk
Sometimes, it's better to be lucky than good. Ankeny's Regan Smith failed to get down a sacrifice bunt during the seventh inning of a tie softball game on Monday at Southeast Polk. The sophomore catcher then hit an RBI double for the go-ahead run on the next pitch, igniting the 13th-ranked Hawkettes to a 6-5 victory in the first game of a CIML Central … [Read more...] about Smith’s RBI double ignites Hawkettes to split against S.E. Polk
After 6-1 start, Hawkettes look to end state tournament drought
The Ankeny softball team hasn't qualified for the state tournament since 2015, when the Hawkettes placed seventh in Class 5A. This year's squad appears to have the talent to end that drought. "I think our depth has really been building," said Ankeny coach Dave Bingham. "I feel like we're set up for something really special, and I think it's a product … [Read more...] about After 6-1 start, Hawkettes look to end state tournament drought