The second-ranked Pleasant Valley baseball team entered Wednesday's doubleheader at Ankeny Centennial as one of the state's hottest squads, riding a 10-game winning streak. But the Jaguars had won four consecutive games and six of their last seven, so they were confident as well. "There's no reason not to be confident with all the work we've put in," … [Read more...] about ‘We fly under the radar, but we’re a good team’: Jags split with No. 2 Pleasant Valley
Summer
‘It feels good!’: Kennedy sets Centennial home run record during Jaguars’ sweep
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Jordyn Kennedy has officially entered into the Ankeny Centennial softball record book. During Monday night’s home doubleheader against Dowling Catholic, the junior slugger crushed her 36th career home run to surpass former Ankeny and Centennial great Kendyl Lindaman as the Jaguars’ new all-time home run record holder. “It … [Read more...] about ‘It feels good!’: Kennedy sets Centennial home run record during Jaguars’ sweep
‘This is just a real gritty team’: Jags sweep Dowling behind pair of complete games
Ankeny Centennial baseball coach Mark Hey hasn't had to make too many pitching changes in the first 15 games of the season. With one of the deepest pitching staffs in the state, the Jaguars have already thrown several complete games. They had two more on Monday from Elijah Starr and Colton Arndt in a doubleheader sweep over visiting Dowling … [Read more...] about ‘This is just a real gritty team’: Jags sweep Dowling behind pair of complete games
Centennial boys return to Roosevelt, sweep pair of games against Roughriders
When the Ankeny Centennial baseball team opened the season on May 19 at Des Moines Roosevelt, the Jaguars got off to a good start before the non-conference doubleheader was postponed due to rain. Centennial finished the job on Friday. Play resumed in the top of the fourth inning with the Jaguars holding a 2-0 lead. They went on to post an 8-1 victory … [Read more...] about Centennial boys return to Roosevelt, sweep pair of games against Roughriders
‘To be mentioned alongside her is a great honor!’: Kennedy ties Lindaman’s HR mark
Jordyn Kennedy helped the Ankeny Centennial softball team to a pair of victories in the Jaguar Invitational on Friday. The junior slugger also made some history. Kennedy went 3-for-3 with a double, two home runs and four RBIs as the third-ranked Jaguars opened the tournament with a 6-3 win over Creston, the No. 15 team in Class 4A. She now has seven … [Read more...] about ‘To be mentioned alongside her is a great honor!’: Kennedy ties Lindaman’s HR mark
Jaguars rely on pitching, defense, timely hits to split with No. 7 Waukee NW
Over the last five games, the Ankeny Centennial baseball team has struggled to score some runs. Fortunately for the Jaguars, a combination of strong pitching performances, solid defense and a few timely hits has allowed them to go 2-3 during that stretch. On Thursday, ninth-ranked Centennial posted a 3-0 victory at No. 7 Waukee Northwest in the first … [Read more...] about Jaguars rely on pitching, defense, timely hits to split with No. 7 Waukee NW
No. 2 Waukee NW blanks Centennial, then No. 3 Jaguars return favor in nightcap
The Ankeny Centennial softball team rebounded in a big way from its first shutout loss of the season. After dropping a 4-0 decision at second-ranked Waukee Northwest in the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday, the No. 3 Jaguars bounced back with a 9-0 victory in six innings in the nightcap to earn a split. "It was a good night against one of the … [Read more...] about No. 2 Waukee NW blanks Centennial, then No. 3 Jaguars return favor in nightcap
‘We found a way to get it done’: Jaguars earn split vs. S.E. Polk with 10-run inning
Apparently, no lead is safe against the Ankeny Centennial softball team. The second-ranked Jaguars showed on Wednesday that they are fully capable of overcoming a huge deficit. Trailing 10-3 in the second game of a doubleheader against visiting Southeast Polk, Centennial erupted for 10 runs in the fifth inning and then held on for a 13-12 win, allowing … [Read more...] about ‘We found a way to get it done’: Jaguars earn split vs. S.E. Polk with 10-run inning
‘I felt really comfortable on the mound’: Morris tosses gem as Jags salvage split
After dropping a second consecutive one-run game, the Ankeny Centennial baseball team needed an ace to take the mound for the nightcap of Wednesday's doubleheader against visiting Southeast Polk. The ninth-ranked Jaguars had just the right guy in Will Morris. The junior righthander tossed a two-hitter and had 12 strikeouts to lead Centennial to a 2-1 … [Read more...] about ‘I felt really comfortable on the mound’: Morris tosses gem as Jags salvage split
Jaguars toss back-to-back no-hitters in doubleheader sweep over Lincoln girls
Kori Lincicum started two of the first three games in the pitcher's circle for the Ankeny Centennial softball team. Friday's non-conference doubleheader against visiting Des Moines Lincoln showed that the second-ranked Jaguars have plenty of pitching depth behind Lincicum. Three other hurlers combined on a pair of no-hitters as Centennial swept the … [Read more...] about Jaguars toss back-to-back no-hitters in doubleheader sweep over Lincoln girls
Severs, Starr, Morris hurl Jaguars to doubleheader sweep at No. 2 Johnston
It's never easy to win on the road against the Johnston baseball team. Sweeping a doubleheader against the Dragons on their home turf is almost impossible. But that's exactly what Ankeny Centennial did on Thursday, posting back-to-back wins of 6-1 and 6-3 against the most dominant program in Class 4A over the last decade. "Our guys played very … [Read more...] about Severs, Starr, Morris hurl Jaguars to doubleheader sweep at No. 2 Johnston
‘The girls rebounded well’: Centennial sweeps doubleheader at No. 10 Johnston
The second-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team bounced back from a season-opening loss to sweep a doubleheader on Thursday at No. 10 Johnston. The Jaguars posted a 3-2 victory in the opener, then rolled to a 9-0 win in five innings in the nightcap. They are now 2-1 in the CIML Conference and overall, while Johnston's records dropped to 1-2 and … [Read more...] about ‘The girls rebounded well’: Centennial sweeps doubleheader at No. 10 Johnston
‘It just didn’t work out tonight’: Jaguars open season with 4-3 loss at Waukee
While the Waukee softball team opened its season on Tuesday with a doubleheader sweep over Des Moines Lincoln, Ankeny Centennial wasn't as fortunate. The Jaguars were hoping to tune up for their CIML Conference opener at Waukee with a game at Norwalk, but Tuesday's non-conference contest was postponed due to rain. Without a game under its belt, … [Read more...] about ‘It just didn’t work out tonight’: Jaguars open season with 4-3 loss at Waukee
Jaguars’ late rally falls short as No. 4 Waukee holds on to remain unbeaten
A late rally by the Ankeny Centennial baseball team came up short in a 6-3 loss at fourth-ranked Waukee on Wednesday. Trailing 5-0, the Jaguars rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth inning and then had the tying runs in scoring position with one out, but Waukee pitcher Grant Sorensen worked his way out of the jam to preserve the win in the CIML … [Read more...] about Jaguars’ late rally falls short as No. 4 Waukee holds on to remain unbeaten
Centennial is No. 2, Ankeny is No. 7 in Class 5A in first softball rankings of season
The Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union released its first softball rankings of the season on Tuesday. Ankeny Centennial is No. 2 in Class 5A behind CIML Conference rival Waukee Northwest. The Jaguars will open their season on Tuesday night with a non-conference game at Norwalk, the No. 7 team in Class 4A. Ankeny is No. 7 in Class 5A. The Hawkettes … [Read more...] about Centennial is No. 2, Ankeny is No. 7 in Class 5A in first softball rankings of season
‘I really like this team’: Jaguars knock off No. 9 C.R. Kennedy behind Morris, Arndt
The Ankeny Centennial baseball team split a pair of games on Saturday in Cedar Rapids. The Jaguars bounced back from a 5-3 loss to Bettendorf with a 3-1 victory over ninth-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy. "I really like this team," said Centennial coach Mark Hey, whose squad is now 2-1 on the season. "They grind every day whether it's a game or … [Read more...] about ‘I really like this team’: Jaguars knock off No. 9 C.R. Kennedy behind Morris, Arndt
Loaded Centennial squad embraces team-first mentality heading into season
Scoring runs likely won't be a problem this season for the Ankeny Centennial softball team. The Jaguars will again boast two of the state's top hitters in Jordyn Kennedy and Mady Ott. They led the team to a 29-10 record and a share of the CIML Conference title a year ago after playing key roles on Centennial's state championship squad in 2023. Those … [Read more...] about Loaded Centennial squad embraces team-first mentality heading into season
Jaguars romp to 12-2 victory over No. 3 Dallas Center-Grimes to open season
The wait was worth it for the Ankeny Centennial baseball team. The Jaguars, who had a doubleheader at Des Moines Roosevelt rained out on Monday, opened their season on Thursday with a 12-2 victory over visiting Dallas Center-Grimes. The non-conference game was halted after six innings due to the 10-run mercy rule. The Mustangs (1-2) are third in the … [Read more...] about Jaguars romp to 12-2 victory over No. 3 Dallas Center-Grimes to open season
‘I’m excited to see what these guys can do’: Jaguars boast 6 returning starters
Ankeny Centennial's Reed Anderson and Isaac Bruhl are planning to play football in college, but the duo didn't want to skip their final baseball season in order to focus on the gridiron. Anderson and Bruhl are among six returning starters for the Jaguars, who will open their season on Monday with a non-conference doubleheader at Des Moines … [Read more...] about ‘I’m excited to see what these guys can do’: Jaguars boast 6 returning starters
Ski-U-Mah!: Centennial softball star Kennedy commits to play for Minnesota
Ankeny Centennial softball star Jordyn Kennedy is headed to the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The junior announced on Thursday that she has verbally committed to play for Minnesota, beginning in the fall of 2026. She becomes the second player in Centennial history to commit to the Gophers, following in the footsteps of Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union … [Read more...] about Ski-U-Mah!: Centennial softball star Kennedy commits to play for Minnesota