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Softball

‘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

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

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

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

KKKKKKlug tosses 7-hitter as Centennial earns split against No. 7 Dragons

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Sam Klug gave the Ankeny Centennial softball team a much-needed lift on Wednesday. The junior pitcher tossed a seven-hitter to lead the fifth-ranked Jaguars to a 6-3 victory over No. 7 Johnston in the second game of a doubleheader at Centennial. She walked one and had six strikeouts while raising her record to 4-2. Klug's win allowed Centennial to earn … [Read more...] about KKKKKKlug tosses 7-hitter as Centennial earns split against No. 7 Dragons

Jaguars blank Roland-Story, will host rematch against Johnston Wednesday

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team pounded out 16 hits and rolled to a 9-0 victory at Roland-Story in a non-conference game on Tuesday. The fifth-ranked Jaguars, who bounced back from a doubleheader loss at No. 2 Waukee on Monday, improved to 16-7 on the season. Roland-Story dropped to 8-8. Centennial took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, then added … [Read more...] about Jaguars blank Roland-Story, will host rematch against Johnston Wednesday

‘We weren’t quite ready to play’: No. 5 Jaguars get swept by No. 2 Waukee

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For the first time this season, the Ankeny Centennial softball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader on Monday. The fifth-ranked Jaguars were swept at No. 2 Waukee, 4-0 and 13-5. The Warriors (18-2) rebounded after being swept themselves by No. 6 Valley on Thursday. Centennial (15-7) had played nine previous twinbills this season, sweeping six of … [Read more...] about ‘We weren’t quite ready to play’: No. 5 Jaguars get swept by No. 2 Waukee

Hot-hitting Jones raises her average 67 points in Centennial’s twinbill split

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Ankeny Centennial's Kennedee Jones entered Thursday's softball doubleheader at Southeast Polk with a .260 average for the season. By the end of the night, Jones had raised her average by 67 points. The senior went 2-for-2 in the first game as Centennial dropped a 6-1 decision, then went 3-for-3 in the nightcap as the fifth-ranked Jaguars earned a split … [Read more...] about Hot-hitting Jones raises her average 67 points in Centennial’s twinbill split

‘We expected a lot of runs’: Hawkettes, Jaguars split high-scoring twinbill

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The Ankeny softball team got a much-needed victory Wednesday against its crosstown rival. Then Ankeny Centennial bounced back with one of its own. The two squads split a high-scoring CIML doubleheader at Ankeny, combining for 35 runs. The 15th-ranked Hawkettes ended a four-game losing skid with an 11-8 victory in the opener before No. 11 Centennial … [Read more...] about ‘We expected a lot of runs’: Hawkettes, Jaguars split high-scoring twinbill