The 2012 Ankeny softball team was already blessed with a handful of stars. But when eighth grader Kendyl Lindaman joined the team's lineup, the Hawkettes became nearly unbeatable. Lindaman set a Class 5A tournament record with three home runs while helping Ankeny to the 13th state championship in school history. She was named the captain of the … [Read more...] about Lindaman becomes 9th Ankeny player to join IGHSAU Softball Hall of Fame
Softball
‘We were doubted for sure’: Hawkettes place 4th, their highest finish since 2013
When the Ankeny softball team entered postseason play on a six-game losing streak, the odds of the Hawkettes capturing a state tournament trophy seemed remote at best. But over the last two weeks, that's exactly what coach Dave Bingham's squad was able to do. Ninth-ranked Ankeny closed out the season on Thursday with a 6-5 loss to No. 11 Urbandale in … [Read more...] about ‘We were doubted for sure’: Hawkettes place 4th, their highest finish since 2013
Rusher leads Ankeny to 4th-place finish, lands spot on Class 5A all-tourney team
Ankeny senior Abby Rusher was named to the Class 5A all-tournament team after leading the Hawkettes to a fourth-place finish in the state softball tournament this week at Fort Dodge. Rusher went 4-for-10 at the plate with at least one hit in all three games. She went 2-for-3 and had a solo home run, her first of the season, in the Hawkettes' 8-1 loss to … [Read more...] about Rusher leads Ankeny to 4th-place finish, lands spot on Class 5A all-tourney team
‘It just didn’t go our way’: Hawkettes will play for 3rd place after tumbling to Valley
Not even a 90-minute rain delay could slow down the Valley softball team's impressive march to the Class 5A championship game. The top-ranked Tigers overcame a brief thunderstorm in the top of the third inning to beat No. 9 Ankeny, 8-1, in the semifinals of the state tournament on Wednesday at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge. "They're a good hitting … [Read more...] about ‘It just didn’t go our way’: Hawkettes will play for 3rd place after tumbling to Valley
An all-CIML softball final in Fort Dodge?: Breaking down the Class 5A semifinals
The CIML Conference nearly advanced four teams to Wednesday's Class 5A semifinals at the state softball tournament, which would have guaranteed an all-CIML final in Thursday's championship. The title game could still feature two teams from the CIML, but it will take a sizable upset in the second semifinal game. Here's a closer look at the two … [Read more...] about An all-CIML softball final in Fort Dodge?: Breaking down the Class 5A semifinals
‘You could feel this’: Ankeny girls blank Wolves, will face No. 1 Valley in semifinals
On paper, the ninth-ranked Ankeny softball team appeared to be facing an uphill battle against No. 4 Waukee Northwest in Monday's Class 5A quarterfinals at the state tournament. Ankeny coach Dave Bingham, though, had plenty of confidence in his squad. "I don't know if a team was more prepared for a game in all of my years of coaching," Bingham said … [Read more...] about ‘You could feel this’: Ankeny girls blank Wolves, will face No. 1 Valley in semifinals
Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Abby Rusher, Ankeny senior
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Avery Nelson, Ankeny softball
Sophomore outfielder Avery Nelson has helped the ninth-ranked Ankeny softball team to a 21-20 record and a second consecutive trip to the Class 5A state tournament. She is batting .362 on the season with 13 RBIs. Nelson leads the Hawkettes with 138 at-bats, 50 hits, 41 singles, eight doubles and 21 stolen bases. She ranks second on the squad with 26 runs … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Avery Nelson, Ankeny softball
State softball preview: 5 CIML schools begin quest for Class 5A title on Monday
The state softball tournament gets under way on Monday with the Class 5A quarterfinals at Harlan Rogers Park. The Class 5A field includes the top four teams in the final rankings, but a rash of upsets in regional play also saw three teams ranked ninth or lower make it to Fort Dodge along with unranked Cedar Rapids Prairie. Will the upsets continue this … [Read more...] about State softball preview: 5 CIML schools begin quest for Class 5A title on Monday
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 268
‘We have some unfinished business’: Hawkettes top S.E. Polk, earn trip to state
The struggles of early July have been long forgotten by the Ankeny softball players. The ninth-ranked Hawkettes are headed to the state tournament. Abby Rusher tossed a six-hitter and Kensington Arringdale hit a home run to lead Ankeny past No. 10 Southeast Polk, 6-2, in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday at Ankeny. The Hawkettes (21-20), who ended … [Read more...] about ‘We have some unfinished business’: Hawkettes top S.E. Polk, earn trip to state
Ankeny’s Rusher, Centennial’s Starr to play in Senior All-Star Softball Classic
Seniors Abby Rusher of Ankeny and Addi Starr of Ankeny Centennial have been selected to play in the Senior All-Star Softball Classic on July 27 at Waukee. Rusher will be a member of the Red Team coached by Katie Burman of Clarksville and Andy Pals of Waukee. Starr will play for the White Team coached by Troy Houge of Collins-Maxwell and Megan Anderson of … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Rusher, Centennial’s Starr to play in Senior All-Star Softball Classic
Ankeny softball quartet, Centennial trio earn IGCA academic all-state honors
Four Ankeny softball players and three from Ankeny Centennial have been named to the academic all-state team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. The Hawkettes were represented by Marah Hansen, Hannah Howard, Cassie Johnson and Ava Tomlinson. The Jaguars, meanwhile, placed Payton Drefke, Addie Pollock and McKenna Vallejo on the squad. Pollock earned … [Read more...] about Ankeny softball quartet, Centennial trio earn IGCA academic all-state honors
‘We knew we could get the job done’: Lensmeyer, Ankeny girls oust Wahawks
It wasn't ideal for the Ankeny softball team to be entering postseason play on the heels of a six-game losing streak. The lack of momentum didn't seem to bother Aubrey Lensmeyer. The junior combined with Abby Rusher on a three-hitter and also hit a home run to lead the ninth-ranked Hawkettes to a 6-2 victory over visiting Waterloo West in a Class 5A … [Read more...] about ‘We knew we could get the job done’: Lensmeyer, Ankeny girls oust Wahawks
‘Softball is a tough sport’: Hawkettes fall below .500 mark with loss to Indianola
The Ankeny softball team fell below the .500 mark for the first time since its season opener on Monday, dropping a 4-2 decision to visiting Indianola for its sixth consecutive loss. The eighth-ranked Hawkettes slipped to 19-20 on the season. Indianola raised its record to 19-17. "Softball is a tough sport, and we're feeling it," said Ankeny coach Dave … [Read more...] about ‘Softball is a tough sport’: Hawkettes fall below .500 mark with loss to Indianola
Dubuque Wahlert, Carlisle extend Hawkettes’ losing streak to 4 games
It's been a season of twists and turns for the Ankeny softball team. Now, with the postseason just around the corner, the eighth-ranked Hawkettes need to find their mojo. Ankeny dropped a pair of games to rated opponents at the Carlisle tournament on Friday, extending its losing streak to four games--matching a season-high. The Hawkettes fell to … [Read more...] about Dubuque Wahlert, Carlisle extend Hawkettes’ losing streak to 4 games
No. 1 Valley sweeps Hawkettes, moves into four-way tie atop CIML Conference
The Ankeny softball team ran into a buzzsaw on Monday night. Top-ranked Valley extended its winning streak to 15 games by sweeping a doubleheader at No. 6 Ankeny. The Tigers overcame an early 2-0 deficit to post a 16-4 victory in the opener, then completed the sweep with a 7-3 triumph. Valley moved into a four-way tie for first place in the CIML … [Read more...] about No. 1 Valley sweeps Hawkettes, moves into four-way tie atop CIML Conference
‘A lot of kids stepped up’: Hawkettes blank Ballard after falling to No. 1 North Polk
The Ankeny softball team bounced back from a 2-0 loss to North Polk with a 7-0 victory over Ballard at the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational on Friday. Both games reversed the outcome from a contest earlier this season. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes (19-14) avenged a 4-1 loss to Ballard on May 25 at Winterset. Abby Rusher tossed a three-hitter and had 11 … [Read more...] about ‘A lot of kids stepped up’: Hawkettes blank Ballard after falling to No. 1 North Polk
‘I really wanted to beat them’: Arringdale, Ankeny girls earn split against Jaguars
Ankeny's Kensington Arringdale grew up on the north side of town. That's why she wanted to beat rival Ankeny Centennial so bad. "I went there (to the north feeder schools) from first to ninth grade," said Arringdale, a sophomore shortstop. After earlier hitting a pair of home runs, Arringdale drove in the go-ahead runs with another hit as the … [Read more...] about ‘I really wanted to beat them’: Arringdale, Ankeny girls earn split against Jaguars
Regional softball pairings announced: Jaguars, Hawkettes both earn No. 1 seeds
The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial softball teams have both earned No. 1 seeds for postseason play. The fourth-ranked Jaguars (24-6) have been placed in Class 5A Region 4. They will host a semifinal game against Marshalltown (10-21) or Iowa City West (2-27) on Saturday, July 13 at 7 p.m. No. 13 Waukee (14-16) will host Dowling Catholic (11-16) in the … [Read more...] about Regional softball pairings announced: Jaguars, Hawkettes both earn No. 1 seeds