Ankeny Fanatic

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Softball

‘I’m always proud of this team’: Hawkettes drop nailbiter at S.E. Polk in regional final

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After playing her final game in an Ankeny softball uniform, senior Aubrey Lensmeyer hugged her coaches before walking off the field at Southeast Polk. Her high school career had come to an end just a few minutes earlier with a 3-2 loss in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday. "I'm always proud of this team," said Lensmeyer. "It's been an up-and-down … [Read more...] about ‘I’m always proud of this team’: Hawkettes drop nailbiter at S.E. Polk in regional final

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kaylyn Miller, Ankeny softball

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Senior third baseman Kaylyn Miller helped the Ankeny softball team to a 5-1 victory at ninth-ranked Ames in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday. The Hawkettes (13-26) will play at No. 3 Southeast Polk (30-10) in the regional final on Tuesday. Miller is batting .232 on the season with seven doubles and 17 RBIs. In the pitcher's circle, she has … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kaylyn Miller, Ankeny softball

‘I’m not surprised at all’: Confident Ankeny girls stun No. 9 Ames in regional semifinal

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Aubrey Lensmeyer and her Ankeny softball teammates were confident going into Saturday's game at Ames--even though the contest looked like a mismatch on paper. "We were the underdogs going into it, but I'm not surprised (by the result)," said Lensmeyer. 'If this team plays our game, we can win and beat anyone." Lensmeyer tossed a six-hitter and also had … [Read more...] about ‘I’m not surprised at all’: Confident Ankeny girls stun No. 9 Ames in regional semifinal

Former Ankeny infielder Lewis transfers from Morehead State to James Madison

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Former Ankeny softball standout Kendra Lewis has committed to play for James Madison University. Lewis, a third baseman and shortstop, is coming off a breakout season at Morehead State, where she earned all-OVC second-team honors as a sophomore. She will have two years of eligibility remaining. Lewis entered the transfer portal after starting all 49 … [Read more...] about Former Ankeny infielder Lewis transfers from Morehead State to James Madison

Hawkettes rally from 9-2 deficit, defeat Valley on Nelson’s walk-off double in 8th

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It would not have been ideal for the Ankeny softball team to enter regional play on a seven-game losing skid. A dramatic rally in the first game of Monday's doubleheader against fourth-ranked Valley allowed the Hawkettes to avoid that scenario. Ankeny overcame a 9-2 deficit on its home field and got a walk-off double from Avery Nelson in the bottom of … [Read more...] about Hawkettes rally from 9-2 deficit, defeat Valley on Nelson’s walk-off double in 8th

Struggling Hawkettes fall to 11-25 with shutout losses to ADM, North Polk

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The Ankeny softball team dropped a pair of games to Class 4A ranked opponents at the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational on Thursday. The Hawkettes suffered a 3-0 loss to No. 4 ADM, then fell to No. 7 North Polk, 12-0, in four innings. They are now 11-25 on the season. ADM (24-6) scored a run in each of the first three innings. Lauren Hagedorn doubled, … [Read more...] about Struggling Hawkettes fall to 11-25 with shutout losses to ADM, North Polk

Ex-AHS softball star Rusher transfers to Bradley after freshman year at Creighton

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Former Ankeny softball star Abby Rusher has transferred to Bradley University following her freshman season at Creighton. "So excited for this new chapter!" Rusher tweeted Tuesday on X in announcing her commitment to the Braves. Rusher, a pitcher, helped the Bluejays to a 30-25 record, including a 15-9 mark in the Big East Conference. She appeared in … [Read more...] about Ex-AHS softball star Rusher transfers to Bradley after freshman year at Creighton

No. 1 Wolves shut out Ankeny, capture outright CIML Conference championship

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Despite dropping a 5-0 decision on Wednesday at top-ranked Waukee Northwest, the Ankeny softball team made the Wolves work for their 25th consecutive victory. Northwest led by only 2-0 through four innings. The Wolves tacked on a run in the fifth inning, then added two more in the sixth to wrap up the outright CIML Conference championship. "It was some … [Read more...] about No. 1 Wolves shut out Ankeny, capture outright CIML Conference championship

Hawkettes pound out 12 hits, but tumble to No. 6 S.E. Polk girls in extra innings

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The Ankeny softball team is hoping to get another shot at CIML Conference rival Southeast Polk. After the two squads split a doubleheader on June 5 at Pleasant Hill, the sixth-ranked Rams traveled to Ankeny on Tuesday for a make-up game and posted an 8-5 victory in eight innings. They scored two runs in the sixth inning to tie it at 5-5 and then used a … [Read more...] about Hawkettes pound out 12 hits, but tumble to No. 6 S.E. Polk girls in extra innings

Lensmeyer hurls Hawkettes past Dowling in first game of doubleheader split

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If the Ankeny softball team is going to pull off any surprises in postseason play, the Hawkettes will likely need to rely on the right arm of senior pitcher Aubrey Lensmeyer. The South Dakota recruit tossed a four-hitter and had four strikeouts to lead Ankeny to a 2-1 victory at Dowling Catholic in the first game of a doubleheader on Monday. The Maroons … [Read more...] about Lensmeyer hurls Hawkettes past Dowling in first game of doubleheader split

‘We played some very good competition’: Hawkettes place 8th at Linn-Mar Invite

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For the second weekend in a row, the Ankeny softball squad earned an eighth-place finish in a 16-team tournament by winning its first-round game before dropping the next three contests. The Hawkettes posted a 5-0 victory over North Linn in the Linn-Mar Invitational on Friday at Marion. They then dropped a 6-2 decision in the quarterfinals to Cedar Rapids … [Read more...] about ‘We played some very good competition’: Hawkettes place 8th at Linn-Mar Invite

Regional softball pairings announced: Jaguars earn top seed, Ankeny hits road

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The Class 5A regional softball pairings have been announced by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. Third-ranked Ankeny Centennial (22-8) is the top seed in Region 3 and will host Urbandale (7-18) or Des Moines North (0-10) in a regional semifinal on Saturday, July 12 at 7 p.m. No. 14 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (17-15) will host Waterloo West (12-18) in … [Read more...] about Regional softball pairings announced: Jaguars earn top seed, Ankeny hits road

‘Kori has grown up so much’: Lincicum hits, pitches Jags to sweep over Ankeny

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Kori Lincicum left her fingerprints all over a pair of Jaguar victories against their crosstown rival. The Ankeny Centennial junior walked off a 5-3 win with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning before tossing a four-hitter in an 8-0 shutout as the fourth-ranked Jaguars swept a doubleheader over visiting Ankeny … [Read more...] about ‘Kori has grown up so much’: Lincicum hits, pitches Jags to sweep over Ankeny

AHS pitchers shine, but Hawkettes drop pair of close games at No. 3 Johnston

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The Ankeny softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader on Tuesday at Johnston in familiar fashion. The third-ranked Dragons scored a run in the sixth inning to post a 3-2 victory in the first game, which was completed after being suspended due to rain on Wednesday. They then got a run in both the sixth and seventh innings to rally for a 2-1 win in … [Read more...] about AHS pitchers shine, but Hawkettes drop pair of close games at No. 3 Johnston

‘We told ourselves to just keep working’: Lensmeyer hurls gem in win at Urbandale

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Ankeny pitcher Aubrey Lensmeyer didn't have her best changeup on Monday. Fortunately, the senior righthander didn't need it. Relying on her other pitches, Lensmeyer tossed a two-hitter and had six strikeouts to lead the Hawkettes to a 3-1 victory at Urbandale in a CIML Conference softball game. "My curve and rise were really on today," said … [Read more...] about ‘We told ourselves to just keep working’: Lensmeyer hurls gem in win at Urbandale

‘I know I’ll get great support there’: Ex-Red Raider Johnson to play for Minnesota

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Former Ankeny softball star Cassie Johnson has found a new home--and it's a lot closer to her hometown. After sitting out her freshman season at Texas Tech as a redshirt, Johnson elected to enter the transfer portal. She has now committed to play for Minnesota. "I looked at quite a few schools, but Minnesota definitely stood out to me!" said Johnson, a … [Read more...] about ‘I know I’ll get great support there’: Ex-Red Raider Johnson to play for Minnesota

Jaguars beat Ankeny at Fort Dodge Invite, then top Dodgers to earn 5th-place finish

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The second meeting between Ankeny's crosstown rivals on the softball field came a few days earlier than expected. Fourth-ranked Ankeny Centennial and Ankeny both competed in the 16-team Fort Dodge Invitational this weekend. The two squads collided in a consolation semifinal on Saturday after they both split a pair of contests on Friday, and the Jaguars … [Read more...] about Jaguars beat Ankeny at Fort Dodge Invite, then top Dodgers to earn 5th-place finish

Waukee rolls past Hawkettes in 4 innings, avenges earlier doubleheader loss

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A return to CIML Conference play has been a struggle this week for the Ankeny softball team. After winning three of four games in the John Stephens Classic last weekend at Creston, the Hawkettes dropped a 4-0 decision at then-No. 3 Valley on Monday. Then, after Wednesday's doubleheader at Johnston was rained out, Ankeny traveled to Waukee on Thursday … [Read more...] about Waukee rolls past Hawkettes in 4 innings, avenges earlier doubleheader loss