Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Summer

‘We were not going to lose’: Jaguars roll past Muscatine to earn 3rd-place finish

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team closed out the best season in school history with a third-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament. The sixth-ranked Jaguars rolled to a 10-0 victory over No. 8 Muscatine in five innings in the consolation final on Thursday at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge. They finished with a 23-9 record, while Muscatine … [Read more...] about ‘We were not going to lose’: Jaguars roll past Muscatine to earn 3rd-place finish

‘Our girls showed that they belonged’: Jaguars fall short against Fort Dodge

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Franie Burnett is looking forward to Thursday's Class 5A consolation final. The third-place game will give Burnett and her Ankeny Centennial softball teammates a chance to end their season with a victory at the state tournament. "I'm really glad we have another game," Burnett said after the sixth-ranked Jaguars lost to No. 1 Fort Dodge, 5-3, in the … [Read more...] about ‘Our girls showed that they belonged’: Jaguars fall short against Fort Dodge

Monumental challenge awaits Centennial girls in Class 5A semifinals

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A thrilling win over fourth-ranked Waukee provided the Ankeny Centennial softball team with an opportunity to pull off an even bigger upset. The No. 6 Jaguars (22-8) will now meet No. 1 Fort Dodge (27-3) in the semifinals of the Class 5A state tournament on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. The game will be played on the Dodgers' home field at Harlan Rogers Park in … [Read more...] about Monumental challenge awaits Centennial girls in Class 5A semifinals

‘It was just a matter of when’: Centennial erupts for dramatic win over Waukee

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Ankeny Centennial runner Mackenzie James watched from third base as her teammate, Franie Burnett, swung and missed at a third strike during Monday's Class 5A quarterfinal against Waukee. Then James noticed the ball skip past Waukee catcher Natalie Wellet. The freshman raced home with the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and the sixth-ranked Jaguars … [Read more...] about ‘It was just a matter of when’: Centennial erupts for dramatic win over Waukee

Jaguars stun No. 4 Waukee in their state tournament debut

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Ankeny Centennial's first trip to the state softball tournament has already been a memorable one. The sixth-ranked Jaguars advanced to the Class 5A semifinals with an improbable 5-2 victory over No. 4 Waukee on Monday at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge. Down to its final five outs, Centennial rallied for five runs in the last two innings to erase a … [Read more...] about Jaguars stun No. 4 Waukee in their state tournament debut

‘No one can stop us’: Confident Jaguars ready for showdown against Waukee

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Madi Huisman is hoping to spend most of the upcoming week in Fort Dodge. Huisman and her teammates on the Ankeny Centennial softball squad aren't satisfied with just making it to the Class 5A state tournament. They want to win a trophy, too. "We're definitely going to win the state championship," Huisman said. Huisman tossed an eight-hitter to … [Read more...] about ‘No one can stop us’: Confident Jaguars ready for showdown against Waukee

‘It’s the best feeling ever’: Jaguars earn trip to Fort Dodge, will play No. 4 Waukee

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Ella Schulz watched from behind home plate as her teammate, second baseman Anna Christiansen, fielded a ground ball and threw to first for the final out of Tuesday's Class 5A regional final. The two juniors then raced toward each other and embraced as the Ankeny Centennial softball team advanced to the state tournament for the first time ever with a 10-5 … [Read more...] about ‘It’s the best feeling ever’: Jaguars earn trip to Fort Dodge, will play No. 4 Waukee

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Eliot Alberhasky, Ankeny Centennial baseball

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Junior Eliot Alberhasky is a member of the eighth-ranked Ankeny Centennial baseball team. He helped the Jaguars to a 14-12 record this season. Alberhasky compiled a 2-2 mark on the mound with a 4.85 ERA. He limited opposing batters to a .178 average. Alberhasky posted wins over Marshalltown on June 19 and Valley on June 26. He allowed no earned runs … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Eliot Alberhasky, Ankeny Centennial baseball

Jaguars outslug Urbandale, advance to state for first time in school history

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Many of the Ankeny Centennial softball players have been dreaming of playing in the state tournament their whole lives. Lizzy Klunder thought she was dreaming again on Tuesday night. Klunder hit a two-run homer to break a 1-1 tie and later added an RBI single to lead the sixth-ranked Jaguars to a 10-5 victory over visiting CIML rival Urbandale in a … [Read more...] about Jaguars outslug Urbandale, advance to state for first time in school history

‘I love those guys with all my heart’: Centennial seniors bow out with 5-3 loss

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The Ankeny Centennial baseball team tried to keep its season alive with a dramatic seventh-inning rally. Trailing 5-2 against visiting Des Moines Roosevelt in a Class 4A substate semifinal on Monday, the eighth-ranked Jaguars loaded the bases with one out against Roughriders reliever Will Armstrong. "I was so proud of our guys," said Centennial coach … [Read more...] about ‘I love those guys with all my heart’: Centennial seniors bow out with 5-3 loss

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ella Schulz, Ankeny Centennial softball

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Junior catcher Ella Schulz went 2-for-3 with a double and one RBI to help the sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team to a 12-2 victory over visiting Cedar Falls in six innings in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday. The Jaguars (20-8) will host Urbandale (10-17) in the regional final on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Schulz is now batting .546 and leads … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ella Schulz, Ankeny Centennial softball

S.E. Polk overcomes Johnson’s monster game, ends Hawkettes’ season at 19-11

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The Ankeny softball team had the right batter at the plate on Saturday with the Hawkettes' season on the line. Trailing by three runs on its home field, 14th-ranked Ankeny loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh inning against Southeast Polk in a Class 5A regional semifinal. Stepping into the batter's box was Marina Carter, the Hawkettes' junior … [Read more...] about S.E. Polk overcomes Johnson’s monster game, ends Hawkettes’ season at 19-11

Jaguars erupt for 8 runs in 5th inning, roll past Cedar Falls in regional semifinal

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team is just one win away from a trip to Fort Dodge. The sixth-ranked Jaguars erupted for eight runs in the fifth inning to break a 2-2 tie and went on to defeat visiting Cedar Falls, 12-2, in six innings in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday. Centennial (20-8) will host CIML rival Urbandale (10-17) in the regional … [Read more...] about Jaguars erupt for 8 runs in 5th inning, roll past Cedar Falls in regional semifinal

Morris mows down Ottumwa; Jaguars will host semifinal against Roosevelt next

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It took only two batters for the Ottumwa baseball team to jump out to an early lead in Friday's Class 4A substate game at Ankeny Centennial. If the Bulldogs thought they had solved Centennial pitcher Trey Morris, they were wrong. Morris recovered after a shaky start and tossed a three-hitter to lead the eighth-ranked Jaguars to a 5-1 victory. He racked … [Read more...] about Morris mows down Ottumwa; Jaguars will host semifinal against Roosevelt next

TREY-MENDOUS!

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Trey Morris tossed a three-hitter and had 14 strikeouts to lead the eighth-ranked Ankeny Centennial baseball team to a 5-1 victory over visiting Ottumwa in the opening round of a Class 4A substate tournament on Friday. Morris allowed an RBI double by Mitch Wood in the first inning, but then struck out the next six batters and retired 11 in a row before … [Read more...] about TREY-MENDOUS!

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ryan Vermeer, Ankeny Centennial baseball

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Senior catcher Ryan Vermeer has helped the 10th-ranked Ankeny Centennial baseball team to a 13-11 record. He went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs as the Jaguars closed out the regular season on Friday by sweeping a doubleheader against visiting Ames. Vermeer, who is batting .194 with three doubles and nine RBIs, is a two-time all-conference first-team … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ryan Vermeer, Ankeny Centennial baseball

No. 6 Jaguars celebrate Senior Night sweep with tears of joy–and sadness

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There were tears of joy on Friday night at the Ankeny Centennial softball field. Tears of sadness flowed, too. The sixth-ranked Jaguars celebrated their Senior Night with a doubleheader sweep over visiting Ames. They posted a 4-3 victory in eight innings in the opener, then completed the sweep with a 10-3 triumph. Afterwards, the team's six seniors … [Read more...] about No. 6 Jaguars celebrate Senior Night sweep with tears of joy–and sadness