With six teams in contention for the CIML Conference baseball title, every game in the second half of the season could be the one that ultimately decides the league champion. Two of the contenders collided on Thursday at Ankeny Centennial, where the eighth-ranked Jaguars were hoping to complete a sweep of the season series against No. 5 Johnston. But … [Read more...] about ‘They took advantage of our mistakes’: Dragons rally past Centennial boys, Morris
Summer
Bartine’s walk-off blast gives Jaguars 10-2 victory over No. 3 Johnston in 6 innings
Lauren Bartine picked a good time to hit her first career varsity home run. The junior designated hitter hit a two-run blast in the sixth inning to give the fourth-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team a 10-2 victory over No. 3 Johnston on Thursday at Centennial. "We played a complete team game!" said Centennial coach Brett Delaney, whose squad swept … [Read more...] about Bartine’s walk-off blast gives Jaguars 10-2 victory over No. 3 Johnston in 6 innings
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kohen Bollwinkel, Ankeny Centennial baseball
Senior outfielder Kohen Bollwinkel has helped the Ankeny Centennial baseball team to a 13-6 record. He has started all 19 games and is batting .311 with a double, a triple and seven RBIs. As a junior, Bollwinkel batted .306 with two triples and 18 RBIs while scoring a team-high 30 runs. He was named to the CIML Conference third team. Here is some … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kohen Bollwinkel, Ankeny Centennial baseball
Jaguars edge Linn-Mar on Foster’s single to split twinbill, end 3-game losing skid
The second-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team ended a three-game losing skid by posting a 3-2 victory in the nightcap of a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday at No. 5 Linn-Mar (Marion). The Jaguars had dropped a 3-2 decision in the opener after losing a pair of 5-4 games to No. 13 Cedar Falls on Friday. They handed Linn-Mar (13-2) just its second … [Read more...] about Jaguars edge Linn-Mar on Foster’s single to split twinbill, end 3-game losing skid
No. 13 Cedar Falls rallies twice to sweep doubleheader against No. 2 Centennial
One big inning was all that the Cedar Falls softball team needed to sweep a non-conference doubleheader on Friday at second-ranked Ankeny Centennial, snapping the Jaguars' seven-game winning streak. The No. 13 Tigers posted a 5-4 victory in both games. They used a five-run sixth inning to erase a 4-0 deficit in the opener, then rallied for five runs in … [Read more...] about No. 13 Cedar Falls rallies twice to sweep doubleheader against No. 2 Centennial
Jaguars sweep No. 7 Valley, move into tie for first place atop CIML Conference
The Ankeny Centennial baseball team moved into a tie for first place in the CIML Conference by sweeping a doubleheader on Thursday at seventh-ranked Valley. The Jaguars held on for a 3-2 victory in the first game, then completed the sweep with a 5-4 win. The top six teams in the conference are now separated by just 1.5 games. Centennial and No. 8 … [Read more...] about Jaguars sweep No. 7 Valley, move into tie for first place atop CIML Conference
‘We for sure feed off each other’: Jaguars blast 5 home runs in sweep at No. 3 Valley
There aren't any easy outs in the Ankeny Centennial softball lineup. Mady Ott homered twice and three of her teammates also hit roundtrippers as the second-ranked Jaguars swept a doubleheader on Thursday at No. 3 Valley, 8-0 and 8-4. "We for sure feed off each other," said Ott. "I think once someone hits (a home run), it’s easier for us to find the … [Read more...] about ‘We for sure feed off each other’: Jaguars blast 5 home runs in sweep at No. 3 Valley
‘We fly under the radar, but we’re a good team’: Jags split with No. 2 Pleasant Valley
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
‘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