Ankeny Fanatic

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Baseball

‘Wartburg just felt like home to me’: Grider to play baseball for Knights

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Ankeny Centennial outfielder Cole Grider has committed to play baseball at Wartburg College. Grider announced his decision via Twitter on Tuesday. "I am proud to announce my commitment to Wartburg College," Grider tweeted. "Thank you to all my coaches, teammates and family for putting me in a position to succeed. Go Knights." Grider helped … [Read more...] about ‘Wartburg just felt like home to me’: Grider to play baseball for Knights

‘It was a relief to make the decision’: Pratt commits to Minnesota State-Mankato

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The Pratt household in Ankeny has been a busy place in recent months with a pair of high school athletes attracting the attention of college coaches. Some of that activity may slow down a little bit now. Ankeny Centennial senior Easton Pratt has verbally committed to play baseball at Minnesota State-Mankato. He announced his decision via Twitter on … [Read more...] about ‘It was a relief to make the decision’: Pratt commits to Minnesota State-Mankato

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Lincoln Lacey, Ankeny Centennial baseball

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Senior pitcher and first baseman Lincoln Lacey helped the Ankeny Centennial baseball team to a 25-14 record this season. He went 5-0 on the mound with a 2.01 ERA while batting .360 with four doubles and 16 RBIs. Lacey was a repeat pick to the CIML Iowa Conference second team. He played for the Large Schools West team in the 2022 Iowa High School … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Lincoln Lacey, Ankeny Centennial baseball

Centennial’s Lacey selected to play in IHSBCA All-Star Series in Mason City

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Ankeny Centennial senior Lincoln Lacey has been selected to play in the 2022 Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Series. The games will be played Friday through Sunday at Mason City. Lacey will play for the Large Schools West team coached by Blake Utley of Fort Dodge. Utley will be assisted by Jon Fitzpatrick of Indianola and Trevor … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Lacey selected to play in IHSBCA All-Star Series in Mason City

Patton, Webb-Tate, Oakie are unanimous picks to Iowa Conference first team

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Ankeny baseball stars Jamison Patton and Tamden Webb-Tate were both unanimous selections to the CIML Iowa Conference first team along with Ankeny Centennial standout Joey Oakie. The all-conference teams, voted on by the league's coaches, were announced on Monday. Three other Jaguars earned first-team honors. They are Nick Severson, Damin Churchman and … [Read more...] about Patton, Webb-Tate, Oakie are unanimous picks to Iowa Conference first team

Q & A with Ankeny Centennial sophomore pitcher Joey Oakie

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Sophomore pitcher Joey Oakie was one of the stars of the Ankeny Centennial baseball team. He posted a 3-3 record with a 1.92 ERA and a team-high 63 strikeouts this season. He also batted .347 with one home run, six doubles and 21 RBIs. Here is a Q & A between Ankeny Fanatic publisher Dan Holm and Oakie, who was planning to attend the Class 4A … [Read more...] about Q & A with Ankeny Centennial sophomore pitcher Joey Oakie

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kyle Miller, Ankeny Centennial baseball

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Junior third baseman Kyle Miller helped the fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial baseball team to a 25-14 record this season. The Jaguars tied for second place in the CIML Iowa Conference with a 16-6 mark. Miller batted .383 with three home runs, seven doubles and 25 RBIs. He had a pair of hits in the Jaguars' 3-2 loss at No. 1 Johnston in a Class 4A substate … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kyle Miller, Ankeny Centennial baseball

‘We gave it our all’: Jaguars push No. 1 Johnston to the limit in substate final

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The members of the Ankeny Centennial baseball team shared some hugs on the field Wednesday. Even though their season didn't end the way they wanted it to, the Jaguars are still a close-knit group. "I'm so proud of my teammates," said sophomore pitcher Joey Oakie. "I couldn't ask for anyone better to be my teammates. They're my brothers, and since the … [Read more...] about ‘We gave it our all’: Jaguars push No. 1 Johnston to the limit in substate final

WALK-OFF MAGIC!: Churchman’s 2-run single advances Jaguars to substate final

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The Ankeny Centennial baseball team finally solved Mason City pitcher Carter Thomas. Damin Churchman hit a two-run single with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the fifth-ranked Jaguars a thrilling 2-1 victory over visiting Mason City in a Class 4A substate semifinal on Monday. "My approach was just to shorten up my swing and just try … [Read more...] about WALK-OFF MAGIC!: Churchman’s 2-run single advances Jaguars to substate final

OAKKKKKKKKKKKKKKIE!: Sophomore tosses 1-hitter, fans 14 in Jaguars’ win

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Ankeny Centennial pitcher Joey Oakie put on a dazzling display Friday. The sophomore righthander tossed a one-hitter and struck out 14 of the 15 batters that he retired as the fifth-ranked Jaguars opened the baseball postseason with a 10-0 victory over visiting Fort Dodge in five innings in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal. "Props to my catcher for … [Read more...] about OAKKKKKKKKKKKKKKIE!: Sophomore tosses 1-hitter, fans 14 in Jaguars’ win

IAN THROWS A McGEM: Senior’s no-no allows Jaguars to split with S.C. North

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Ankeny Centennial pitcher Ian McGhiey got a lot of offensive support during the second game of Saturday's non-conference baseball doubleheader against visiting Sioux City North. He didn't really need it. McGhiey tossed a no-hitter and the Jaguars routed North, 17-0, in four innings to salvage a split of the twinbill. The Stars won the opener, … [Read more...] about IAN THROWS A McGEM: Senior’s no-no allows Jaguars to split with S.C. North

Centennial splits with Little Cyclones, but remains alive in conference race

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The Ankeny Centennial baseball team nearly pulled off a miraculous sweep of Wednesday's doubleheader at Ames. After rolling to a 15-0 victory in five innings in the opener, the fifth-ranked Jaguars fell behind, 10-1, in the nightcap. "I was really proud of them," Centennial coach Mark Hey said of his team's comeback. "Ames was up 10-1 and they had a … [Read more...] about Centennial splits with Little Cyclones, but remains alive in conference race

Jaguars, Hawks earn No. 2 seeds in Class 4A substate brackets from IHSAA

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Fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial and Ankeny have both received No. 2 seeds in the Class 4A substate baseball brackets that were unveiled Tuesday by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. The Jaguars (20-10) will host fifth-seeded Fort Dodge (12-18) in a Substate 2 quarterfinal on July 8 at 7 p.m. They've won three of the four meetings against the … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawks earn No. 2 seeds in Class 4A substate brackets from IHSAA

After winning streak ends, Jaguars rebound with 11-1 victory over rated foe

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The Ankeny Centennial baseball team saw its 12-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday, but the Jaguars then bounced back with an 11-1 victory over Coon Rapids-Bayard in five innings in the Brent Prange Classic at Centennial. Centennial scored four runs in the first inning and two more in the fourth. After Coon Rapids-Bayard scored a run in the top … [Read more...] about After winning streak ends, Jaguars rebound with 11-1 victory over rated foe

A PERFECT DOZEN: Jaguars top No. 3 Dowling Catholic for 12th straight win

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After being ranked fourth in the Class 4A preseason rankings, the Ankeny Centennial baseball team got off to a slow start this season, posting a 7-9 record in its first 16 games. Since then, the Jaguars have been unbeatable. Centennial used a three-run sixth inning to beat visiting Dowling Catholic, 6-3, in a non-conference game on Friday. The Maroons … [Read more...] about A PERFECT DOZEN: Jaguars top No. 3 Dowling Catholic for 12th straight win

‘JIM’ DANDY: Lacey outduels NW’s Watts; Jaguars tie for league lead with sweep

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Catcher Nick Severson and his teammates on the Ankeny Centennial baseball squad were prepared to face one of the state's top pitchers on Wednesday. Severson hit a go-ahead triple in the fifth inning and the Jaguars went on to beat Anthony Watts and ninth-ranked Waukee Northwest, 5-4, in the first game of a doubleheader at Centennial. Watts had tossed a … [Read more...] about ‘JIM’ DANDY: Lacey outduels NW’s Watts; Jaguars tie for league lead with sweep

‘We’re really confident in ourselves’: Jaguars’ winning streak reaches 9 games

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The foundation for the Ankeny Centennial baseball team's recent success has been laid in the mornings on the practice field. Kyle Miller homered twice and the Jaguars completed a sweep of Monday's doubleheader against visiting Fort Dodge with a 10-0 victory in five innings. "We're happy with how we're playing," said Miller, who went 2-for-3 and drove … [Read more...] about ‘We’re really confident in ourselves’: Jaguars’ winning streak reaches 9 games