Ankeny Fanatic

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Softball

Ankeny Fanatic’s breakdown of first-ever double-elimination tourney in Class 5A

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The Class 5A state softball tournament will get under way on Monday with four opening-round games at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge. All of the Class 5A games on the first three days of the tournament will be played on Triton Field, one of the new east diamonds. This year's tournament will be played under a double-elimination format for the first time … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic’s breakdown of first-ever double-elimination tourney in Class 5A

Kennedy named first-team all-American by NFCA; Ott earns all-region honors

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Ankeny Centennial softball star Jordyn Kennedy has been named a first-team all-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Kennedy, a senior third baseman, was one of 13 players across the nation to earn first-team honors. She was the only Iowan named to any of the three all-American teams. Kennedy was also selected to the Region I first … [Read more...] about Kennedy named first-team all-American by NFCA; Ott earns all-region honors

Jaguars roll past Muscatine, advance to state tourney for 5th time in last 7 years

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The last regional championship game Lauren Sandholm played in with the Ankeny Centennial softball team ended with a heart-breaking defeat. But after a season away from the squad, the star pitcher’s return to the lineup alongside her twin sister, Audrey, was more than enough to help the second-ranked Jaguars back to Fort … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll past Muscatine, advance to state tourney for 5th time in last 7 years

‘You don’t want to overlook anyone’: Jags rout S.C. East, will host Muscatine next

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny Centennial softball players have been around the postseason block enough to know that they can't afford to overlook any opponent. The second-ranked Jaguars were well prepared for Saturday's matchup against visiting Sioux City East, and it showed. Centennial pounded out 13 hits and every player got a chance to … [Read more...] about ‘You don’t want to overlook anyone’: Jags rout S.C. East, will host Muscatine next

‘It feels good to come out on top’: Jaguars earn split with Valley, capture outright title

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Now that the Ankeny Centennial softball team has earned the CIML Conference title, the second-ranked Jaguars can focus their attention on a bigger prize. Centennial captured the outright league crown with a 6-3 victory over visiting Valley in the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday. The No. 3 Tigers won the opener, 6-2, to become the first team … [Read more...] about ‘It feels good to come out on top’: Jaguars earn split with Valley, capture outright title

After routing No. 4 DC-G, Jaguars will play for outright CIML crown on Wednesday

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team passed another huge test on Tuesday with a 9-2 victory at Dallas Center-Grimes in a non-conference showdown between top-five squads. The second-ranked Jaguars used an eight-run second inning to build a commanding 9-0 lead. No. 4 Dallas Center-Grimes extended the game on a two-run homer by Jenah Gray in the fifth, but … [Read more...] about After routing No. 4 DC-G, Jaguars will play for outright CIML crown on Wednesday

Jaguars rally to sweep Urbandale, clinch share of conference title on Senior Night

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Despite playing just one game in the previous eight days, the Ankeny Centennial softball team had no trouble picking up right where it left off. The second-ranked Jaguars swept a doubleheader against visiting Urbandale on Monday and clinched at least a share of the CIML Conference title in the process, thanks to No. 1 Waukee Northwest's 4-3 loss at No. 6 … [Read more...] about Jaguars rally to sweep Urbandale, clinch share of conference title on Senior Night

‘This team just never gives up’: Jaguars stun Dowling girls with miraculous rally

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In a season full of improbable comebacks by the Ankeny Centennial softball team, the Jaguars' latest rally from an almost certain defeat may have been the most miraculous one yet. Down to its final out, second-ranked Centennial rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to forge an 8-8 tie against No. 7 Dowling Catholic on Wednesday. Kori … [Read more...] about ‘This team just never gives up’: Jaguars stun Dowling girls with miraculous rally

Spiegel, Hatfield outduel Iowa City Liberty duo in Centennial’s doubleheader sweep

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The home run binge finally came to an end, but Ankeny Centennial's dominance on the softball field continued on Friday with a doubleheader sweep over visiting Iowa City Liberty. The second-ranked Jaguars swept the non-conference twinbill by scores of 3-0 and 7-1. They raised their overall record to 31-2, while the Lightning dropped to 17-13. The … [Read more...] about Spiegel, Hatfield outduel Iowa City Liberty duo in Centennial’s doubleheader sweep

‘It felt really good off the bat’: Wyble’s slam allows Jags to split with Waukee NW

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On a night when its 21-game winning streak came to an end, the Ankeny Centennial softball team still managed to pull off another dramatic, come-from-behind victory. After dropping a 7-3 decision in the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday at top-ranked Waukee Northwest, the No. 2 Jaguars fell behind in the nightcap, 7-3, and were just three outs away … [Read more...] about ‘It felt really good off the bat’: Wyble’s slam allows Jags to split with Waukee NW

Jaguars earn top seed in Class 5A Region 2, while Hawkettes will play on road

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The second-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team has been awarded the top seed in Class 5A Region 2 by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. Ankeny, meanwhile, has been placed in Region 4. The Hawkettes (10-16) are seeded third and will play at 11th-ranked Cedar Rapids Prairie (16-8) in a regional semifinal on Saturday, July 11 at 7 … [Read more...] about Jaguars earn top seed in Class 5A Region 2, while Hawkettes will play on road

Lincicum blasts record-setting homer, helps Jaguars to sweep over Hawkettes

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team seemed destined to break the state's all-time single-season home run record during Wednesday's doubleheader at Ankeny. It took only five pitches for the second-ranked Jaguars to make some history in the first game. Leadoff batter Kori Lincicum hit a three-ball, one-strike pitch from Sophie Schoeppner well beyond the … [Read more...] about Lincicum blasts record-setting homer, helps Jaguars to sweep over Hawkettes

HISTORIC BLAST: Jaguars equal HR mark, rally past S.E. Polk on Ott’s 3-run shot

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Mady Ott couldn’t have picked a better time to help etch the Ankeny Centennial softball team into the record books. A sixth-inning three-run homer from Ott was not only the catalyst for the second-ranked Jaguars’ 5-3 come-from-behind victory over No. 6 Southeast Polk, but it helped Centennial tie the all-time single-season … [Read more...] about HISTORIC BLAST: Jaguars equal HR mark, rally past S.E. Polk on Ott’s 3-run shot

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ava Faber, Ankeny Centennial softball

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Senior second baseman Ava Faber has helped the second-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team to a 25-1 record. The Jaguars extended their winning streak to 18 games by winning the Fort Dodge Invitational over the weekend, capped off by a 9-3 win over No. 5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy in Saturday's championship game. Faber is batting .329 with three home runs, … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ava Faber, Ankeny Centennial softball

Jaguars cruise to Fort Dodge crown, move within one homer of all-time state record

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team's march toward the all-time state home run record continued over the weekend at the Fort Dodge Invitational, where the second-ranked Jaguars blasted seven more homers and cruised to the tournament crown to extend their winning streak to 18 games. Mady Ott hit three of the homers to lead the way, two of them on Saturday. … [Read more...] about Jaguars cruise to Fort Dodge crown, move within one homer of all-time state record

Jaguars roll past Johnston, get combined no-hitter from Spiegel, Sandholm, Sterling

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team just keeps rolling along. The second-ranked Jaguars completed a sweep of their season series against Johnston with an 11-0 road victory in five innings on Thursday. They swept the three meetings against the Dragons by a combined margin of 29-2 with all of the games ending via the mercy rule. "We came out and hit the … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll past Johnston, get combined no-hitter from Spiegel, Sandholm, Sterling

Jaguars use miraculous rally to sweep Waukee, move into first place in CIML

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After pulling off a miraculous 11-9 victory in the opener of Wednesday's doubleheader at 13th-ranked Waukee, the No. 2 Ankeny Centennial softball team used that momentum to cruise to an 11-0 win in six innings in the nightcap. The sweep allowed the Jaguars to extend their winning streak to 13 games while moving into sole possession of first place in the … [Read more...] about Jaguars use miraculous rally to sweep Waukee, move into first place in CIML

Jaguars rally past Urbandale for 10-5 win, keep pace with Waukee NW in CIML race

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After getting off to a slow start, the Ankeny Centennial softball team scored nine unanswered runs to post a 10-5 victory at Urbandale on Monday. The second-ranked Jaguars overcame an early 4-1 deficit with five runs in the third inning and four more in the fourth. They extended their winning streak to 11 games, while the struggling J-Hawks suffered their … [Read more...] about Jaguars rally past Urbandale for 10-5 win, keep pace with Waukee NW in CIML race