Ankeny Fanatic

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Softball

HOP ON THE BUS, GUS: Senior tosses perfect game in Jaguars’ sweep

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The way that her teammates were hitting the ball, Ankeny Centennial pitcher Lauren Gustofson didn't have to be perfect in the Jaguars' softball season opener on Monday. But the senior was anyway. Gustofson tossed a five-inning perfect game with 11 strikeouts as Centennial rolled to a 15-0 victory at Waukee in the opener of a CIML Conference … [Read more...] about HOP ON THE BUS, GUS: Senior tosses perfect game in Jaguars’ sweep

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Payton Drefke, Centennial girls’ golf/softball

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Ankeny Centennial junior Payton Drefke qualified for the girls' Class 4A state golf meet as an individual by placing third in a regional meet on Wednesday at Veenker Golf Course in Ames. She shot an 8-over-par 81 to lead the Jaguars to a fourth-place finish in the 10-team field. The state meet will be held on Thursday and Friday at Otter Creek Golf Course … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Payton Drefke, Centennial girls’ golf/softball

Jaguars seek return to Class 5A state tournament after one-year absence

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After a one-year absence, the Ankeny Centennial softball team will be looking to return to Fort Dodge for the Class 5A state tournament this summer. The Jaguars placed third in Class 5A in 2020 and earned a runner-up finish in 2021. Last year, they advanced to a regional final before Linn-Mar (Marion) erupted for seven runs in the sixth inning to post a … [Read more...] about Jaguars seek return to Class 5A state tournament after one-year absence

Centennial pitcher Stahr commits to play softball at Iowa Central

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Ankeny Centennial pitcher Jadeyn Stahr will continue her softball career at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. Stahr announced her verbal commitment to the Tritons via Twitter on Wednesday. "It was a tough decision, but I had to pick what was best for me and I knew it was Iowa Central!" Stahr said. "I looked at a few other schools with great … [Read more...] about Centennial pitcher Stahr commits to play softball at Iowa Central

‘I just knew this is where I wanted to go!’: Belzer to play softball at Rogers State

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Mariah Belzer of Ankeny Centennial has committed to play softball at Rogers State University, an NCAA Division II school in Claremore, Okla. Belzer, who plays for the Jaguars Elite club team, announced her decision on Twitter last week. "What I really liked about Rogers State was how nice the coaches and players were," said Belzer. "They were all very … [Read more...] about ‘I just knew this is where I wanted to go!’: Belzer to play softball at Rogers State

Linn-Mar erupts for 7 runs in 6th inning, denies Jaguars another trip to state

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One bad inning proved to be costly for the Ankeny Centennial softball team. Eighth-ranked Linn-Mar (Marion) erupted for seven runs in the sixth inning to defeat the No. 5 Jaguars, 9-4, in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday at Centennial. "We knew Linn-Mar was going to be a good team," said Centennial coach Brett Delaney. "They came out and swung the … [Read more...] about Linn-Mar erupts for 7 runs in 6th inning, denies Jaguars another trip to state

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Lauren Solis, Ankeny Centennial softball

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Senior shortstop Lauren Solis has helped the fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team to a 25-12 record. She is batting .333 with four doubles and 20 RBIs. The Jaguars posted a 4-3 victory over visiting Waterloo West in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday. Solis watched the game from the dugout due to a season-ending injury that she suffered … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Lauren Solis, Ankeny Centennial softball

Survive and advance: Jaguars hold off Waterloo West, will host Linn-Mar next

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Survive and advance. That's all that matters in postseason play. The Ankeny Centennial softball team got a tougher-than-expected battle from visiting Waterloo West in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday, but the fifth-ranked Jaguars held on for a 4-3 victory. "Postseason time brings out the best in everybody," said Centennial coach Brett … [Read more...] about Survive and advance: Jaguars hold off Waterloo West, will host Linn-Mar next

Jaguars top North Polk, then rally past Class 4A No. 1 ADM at DC-G tournament

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Riding the momentum of its doubleheader sweep over Ankeny on Thursday, the Ankeny Centennial softball team won a pair of games at the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational on Friday. The sixth-ranked Jaguars used a three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning to post a 4-3 victory over ADM (Adel), the No. 1 team in Class 4A. ADM lost for only the fourth … [Read more...] about Jaguars top North Polk, then rally past Class 4A No. 1 ADM at DC-G tournament

After a bad first inning, Jaguars salvage split of doubleheader at Ames

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The sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team bounced back from one bad inning to earn a split of Wednesday's doubleheader at No. 13 Ames. The Little Cyclones used a four-run first inning to post a 4-2 victory in the opener, snapping Centennial's season-high five-game winning streak. The Jaguars then rebounded with an 8-1 win in the nightcap. "We … [Read more...] about After a bad first inning, Jaguars salvage split of doubleheader at Ames

Jaguars roll past Roland-Story, extend season-high winning streak to 5 games

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The streaky Ankeny Centennial softball team has had an up-and-down season. Now, the Jaguars are riding their longest winning streak of the summer. Sixth-ranked Centennial rolled to an 11-0 non-conference victory on Tuesday at Roland-Story, the No. 14 team in Class 3A. It was the fifth straight win for the Jaguars (19-11), who previously had a pair of … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll past Roland-Story, extend season-high winning streak to 5 games

Jaguars rout Davis County, Pleasantville after being rained out on Friday

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After being rained out on Friday, the Ankeny Centennial softball team won its final two games in the Brent Prange Classic on Saturday at Centennial. The sixth-ranked Jaguars posted a 9-0 victory over Davis County, the No. 9 team in Class 3A. They then defeated Pleasantville, 9-3, for their fourth straight win. "Our girls are starting to swing the bat … [Read more...] about Jaguars rout Davis County, Pleasantville after being rained out on Friday

Regional softball pairings announced by Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union

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If the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial softball teams meet in the postseason, it will have to be at the Class 5A state tournament. The sixth-ranked Jaguars and No. 9 Hawkettes have been placed in separate regions by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. The postseason pairings were announced on Friday. Centennial (16-11) is the top seed in Region 6. … [Read more...] about Regional softball pairings announced by Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union

Jaguars pound out 29 hits, 7 of them for extra bases, in sweep at Urbandale

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It's been a tough week for the Ankeny Centennial softball team. Thursday's non-conference doubleheader at Urbandale provided the Jaguars with a chance to get back on the winning track. They took advantage of it. Sixth-ranked Centennial pounded out 29 hits, seven of them for extra bases, and swept the J-Hawks by scores of 10-2 and 9-3. The Jaguars, … [Read more...] about Jaguars pound out 29 hits, 7 of them for extra bases, in sweep at Urbandale

‘We just didn’t quite get over the hump’: Jaguars are swept by No. 1 Waukee NW

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team needed just one more big hit to knock off top-ranked Waukee Northwest in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday at Centennial. Unfortunately, the No. 5 Jaguars didn't get it. Northwest held on for a 5-4 victory, then completed a sweep of the season series by winning the nightcap, 13-2, in five innings. "Our … [Read more...] about ‘We just didn’t quite get over the hump’: Jaguars are swept by No. 1 Waukee NW

‘The Dodgers came out ready to play’: No. 4 Fort Dodge tops Jaguars twice

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A big week for the Ankeny Centennial softball team got off to a rough start on Monday. The fifth-ranked Jaguars were swept by No. 4 Fort Dodge in a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader at Centennial. The Dodgers posted a 5-1 victory in the opener, then rolled to a 10-1 win in the nightcap to complete a sweep of the season series. Fort Dodge moved into a … [Read more...] about ‘The Dodgers came out ready to play’: No. 4 Fort Dodge tops Jaguars twice

Hawkettes place 5th at Fort Dodge Invite after losing to eventual champ on Friday

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The Ankeny softball team posted a 7-4 victory over Ballard (Huxley) to place fifth in the Fort Dodge Invitational on Saturday. The 14th-ranked Hawkettes won three of four games in the two-day, 16-team tournament. They improved to 16-7 on the season, while Ballard fell to 9-11. "We love this tournament," said Ankeny coach Dave Bingham. "It's really good … [Read more...] about Hawkettes place 5th at Fort Dodge Invite after losing to eventual champ on Friday

Lathrop earns first varsity win to finish off Jaguars’ sweep over Marshalltown

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team continues to dominate most of its opponents in the CIML Iowa Conference. The fifth-ranked Jaguars earned their fifth doubleheader sweep of the season on Thursday with a pair of run-rule victories over visiting Marshalltown. They rolled to a 14-2 win in four innings, then completed the sweep with an 11-0 triumph in five … [Read more...] about Lathrop earns first varsity win to finish off Jaguars’ sweep over Marshalltown