Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Summer

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Joey Oakie, Ankeny Centennial baseball

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Junior pitcher Joey Oakie led the Ankeny Centennial baseball team to a 30-8 record this season. He was a unanimous pick to the CIML Conference first team and was a repeat selection to the Class 4A North Central all-district first team. Oakie compiled a 7-3 mark with a 1.13 ERA and racked up 91 strikeouts in just 49 2/3 innings. He also batted .341 with … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Joey Oakie, Ankeny Centennial baseball

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

‘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

‘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

Jaguars erupt for 22 runs, toss combined no-hitter in substate win over North

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The first game of the postseason can sometimes be the most stressful one. That won't be the case for the Ankeny Centennial baseball team. The top-ranked Jaguars pounded out 15 hits and rolled to a 22-0 victory over visiting Des Moines North in four innings in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal on Friday. "The guys are certainly very focused this time … [Read more...] about Jaguars erupt for 22 runs, toss combined no-hitter in substate win over North

Jaguars end slide with win over Riders, break school record with 29th victory

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The Ankeny Centennial baseball team needed a win on Wednesday for a couple of reasons. After losing back-to-back games for the first time this season, the top-ranked Jaguars needed to gain some momentum heading into postseason play. Coach Mark Hey's team also needed a win to set the school record for most victories in a season. The Jaguars responded … [Read more...] about Jaguars end slide with win over Riders, break school record with 29th victory

Loss at Waukee NW forces Jaguars to share conference crown with Johnston

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With the start of postseason play later this week, the Ankeny Centennial baseball team is still trying to rediscover its mojo. The top-ranked Jaguars dropped a 6-3 decision at Waukee Northwest in their CIML Conference finale on Monday. The loss, coupled with No. 3 Johnston's 7-3 victory at No. 5 Southeast Polk, allowed the Dragons to tie Centennial for … [Read more...] about Loss at Waukee NW forces Jaguars to share conference crown with Johnston

Jaguars beat another ranked foe, close out regular season with 31-5 record

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There has been no letdown for the Ankeny Centennial softball team after clinching the CIML Conference title. The top-ranked Jaguars closed out the regular season on Monday with a 5-1 victory at Norwalk in a non-conference game. The Warriors are ranked fifth in Class 4A. "We had eight games in the last week--all of them against rated opponents--and we … [Read more...] about Jaguars beat another ranked foe, close out regular season with 31-5 record