Ankeny Fanatic

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Jaguars

Adamson, Watson, Pratt are playing for Large Schools West in All-Star Series

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Seniors Brock Adamson and Max Watson of Ankeny along with Easton Pratt of Ankeny Centennial are participating in the 2023 All-Star Series this weekend at Merchants Park in Carroll. The event is sponsored by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association. Adamson, Watson and Pratt will play for the Large Schools West team coached by Eric Evans of … [Read more...] about Adamson, Watson, Pratt are playing for Large Schools West in All-Star Series

Six Jaguars, four Hawkettes earn all-state honors from Girls’ Coaches Association

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Six Ankeny Centennial softball players and four more from Ankeny have received all-state honors from the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. Centennial coach Brett Delaney was also honored--he was named the Class 5A coach of the year after guiding the Jaguars to their first state championship. Senior catcher Sydney Morris of Centennial was selected to the … [Read more...] about Six Jaguars, four Hawkettes earn all-state honors from Girls’ Coaches Association

Delaney named district coach of the year; 3 Jaguars, 2 Hawkettes also honored

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It was a storybook season for coach Brett Delaney and the Ankeny Centennial softball team. After guiding the Jaguars to a 36-5 record and the first state title in school history, Delaney has been named the Class 5A West district coach of the year by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. He also led his team to the CIML Conference crown. Three of … [Read more...] about Delaney named district coach of the year; 3 Jaguars, 2 Hawkettes also honored

Jaguars, Hawks, Eagles earn all-district honors from Baseball Coaches Assoc.

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Six Ankeny Centennial players have been named to the Class 4A North Central all-district first team by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association, while Ankeny landed two players on the second team. Three Ankeny Christian Academy players were honored in Class 1A. The Jaguars were represented on the first team by junior pitcher Joey Oakie, senior … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawks, Eagles earn all-district honors from Baseball Coaches Assoc.

Oakie named to 72-man roster for USA National Team Development Program

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Ankeny Centennial junior pitcher Joey Oakie has been named to the 72-man roster for the 2023 16U/17U National Team Development Program (NTDP), USA Baseball has announced. Oakie will leave on Tuesday for Cary, N.C., where the NTDP will be held from Wednesday through Saturday at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. "I knew this would be a … [Read more...] about Oakie named to 72-man roster for USA National Team Development Program

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Lauren Gustofson: Ankeny Centennial softball

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Senior pitcher Lauren Gustofson was named to the all-tournament team after helping the Ankeny Centennial softball team to its first state championship. She allowed just three hits over the first four innings as the Jaguars rolled to an 11-0 victory over Pleasant Valley in five innings in the Class 5A title game on Thursday at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Lauren Gustofson: Ankeny Centennial softball

James, Kennedy, Sandholm join Miller, Johnson, Rusher on all-CIML first team

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Class 5A state champion Ankeny Centennial and state qualifier Ankeny both placed three softball players on the CIML Conference first team by a vote of the league's coaches. The Jaguars were represented by eighth grade pitcher Lauren Sandholm, freshman infielder Jordyn Kennedy and senior outfielder Mackenzie James, who was named to a utility position. … [Read more...] about James, Kennedy, Sandholm join Miller, Johnson, Rusher on all-CIML first team

Centennial foursome, Ankeny’s Watson named to CIML Conference first team

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Ankeny senior catcher Max Watson has joined four players from the Ankeny Centennial baseball team on the CIML Conference first team by a vote of the league's coaches. The Jaguars were represented on the squad by junior pitcher Joey Oakie, senior pitcher Easton Pratt, senior catcher Nick Severson and senior infielder Damin Churchman. That foursome led … [Read more...] about Centennial foursome, Ankeny’s Watson named to CIML Conference first team

‘This is so well-deserved’: Dominant Jaguars romp to Class 5A softball crown

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It was a moment that Mariah Belzer will never forget. Ankeny Centennial's senior shortstop caught a line drive off the bat of Pleasant Valley's Ashley Hansen for the final out of Thursday's Class 5A state championship softball game, securing the Jaguars' first title in school history. "She's a slapper, and she hit it that way the last time," Belzer … [Read more...] about ‘This is so well-deserved’: Dominant Jaguars romp to Class 5A softball crown

ROARING GOOD TIME: Jaguars capture first state title in dominating fashion

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team didn't just capture its first state title. The top-ranked Jaguars dominated the Class 5A tournament. Centennial erupted for six runs in the first inning and went on to beat No. 6 Pleasant Valley, 11-0, in five innings in the championship game on Thursday at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge. The Jaguars (36-5) … [Read more...] about ROARING GOOD TIME: Jaguars capture first state title in dominating fashion

No. 1 for a reason: Ankeny Fanatic’s prediction for the Class 5A title game

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While the top half of the bracket in the Class 5A state softball tournament has gone according to form this week, the bottom half has produced some unexpected results. Sixth-ranked Pleasant Valley and No. 7 Muscatine both pulled off upsets in the quarterfinals on Monday, then the Spartans avenged last year's quarterfinal loss to Muscatine in the semifinals … [Read more...] about No. 1 for a reason: Ankeny Fanatic’s prediction for the Class 5A title game

JAGUAR UPRISING: 8-run outburst in 5th inning sends Centennial to 5A title game

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When Ankeny Centennial's Sydney Morris made the second out with no runners on during the fifth inning of Wednesday's game against CIML Conference rival Southeast Polk, the senior catcher didn't expect to bat again just a few minutes later. But that's exactly what happened. Nine batters and seven hits later, Morris stepped to the plate and delivered a … [Read more...] about JAGUAR UPRISING: 8-run outburst in 5th inning sends Centennial to 5A title game

Rematch Wednesday: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals

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The Class 5A semifinals at the state softball tournament on Wednesday will feature a pair of rematches between conference rivals. Ankeny Fanatic publisher Dan Holm and photographer Drue Wolfe will be making an aerial trip to Fort Dodge with local pilot Chris Janssen, and luckily we'll be able to walk across the street to Harlan Rogers Park from the Fort … [Read more...] about Rematch Wednesday: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals

PRETTY IN PINK: Jaguars dye their hair, then roll to 7-1 victory over Bettendorf

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The nerves eventually went away for Lauren Gustofson and the Ankeny Centennial softball team. Perhaps the pink hair might have helped. Gustofson, a senior pitcher, got out of some early jams and the top-ranked Jaguars went on to beat No. 8 Bettendorf, 7-1, in the Class 5A quarterfinals on Monday at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge. "I was pretty … [Read more...] about PRETTY IN PINK: Jaguars dye their hair, then roll to 7-1 victory over Bettendorf

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Nick Severson, Ankeny Centennial baseball

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Senior catcher Nick Severson helped lead the Ankeny Centennial baseball team to a 30-8 record. The Jaguars set a school record for most victories in a season. Severson batted .463 with two home runs, 12 doubles and 27 RBIs. He struck out only eight times in 123 plate appearances. Here is some inside info on Severson: Congratulations on an … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Nick Severson, Ankeny Centennial baseball

State softball preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals

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The state softball tournament gets under way on Monday at Fort Dodge, and the Class 5A field boasts five teams from the CIML Conference--including top-ranked Ankeny Centennial and No. 2 Ankeny. Three squads from eastern Iowa will try to pull off an upset in Monday's quarterfinals. The other quarterfinal will be an all-CIML matchup between No. 4 Southeast … [Read more...] about State softball preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals

‘We had some chances early’: Jaguars strand 8 runners in stunning loss to Ames

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Ankeny Centennial's magical season on the baseball diamond came to an end one week earlier than most people expected. The top-ranked Jaguars went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base in a stunning 5-1 loss to visiting Ames in a Class 4A substate final on Wednesday. "We had some chances early that we didn't capitalize … [Read more...] about ‘We had some chances early’: Jaguars strand 8 runners in stunning loss to Ames

Jaguars tie school record for victories, head to 5A state tourney as No. 1 seed

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team is headed back to Fort Dodge for the third time in four years. The top-ranked Jaguars advanced to the Class 5A state tournament with a 10-1 victory over visiting Ames in a regional final on Tuesday. The win allowed Centennial (33-5) to tie the school record for most victories in a season. "I'm very excited for this … [Read more...] about Jaguars tie school record for victories, head to 5A state tourney as No. 1 seed

‘This was good redemption’: Starr’s first career homer punctuates Jaguars’ win

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Ankeny Centennial's Addi Starr didn't see the ball go over the fence. But she heard the reaction from her teammates. Starr hit the first home run of her high school softball career to punctuate the top-ranked Jaguars' 7-2 victory over visiting Des Moines East in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday. "I was just running hard up until second … [Read more...] about ‘This was good redemption’: Starr’s first career homer punctuates Jaguars’ win