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‘We had a lot of kids step up’: Hawkettes make adjustments, romp past Dowling

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After dropping six of its previous seven games, the Ankeny softball team needed to make some adjustments. The 13th-ranked Hawkettes responded on Wednesday with a 7-2 victory over visiting Dowling Catholic. "It was nice to get a 'W'," said Ankeny coach Sarah Saladino. "We've just gone back to work at practice and changed up a few things that we were … [Read more...] about ‘We had a lot of kids step up’: Hawkettes make adjustments, romp past Dowling

‘Things just kind of snowballed on us’: Hawks tumble to Dowling in 5 innings

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A fast start ignited the visiting Dowling Catholic baseball team to a 13-1 victory at Ankeny in five innings on Wednesday. The Maroons took a 4-0 lead in the first inning and then scored four more runs in the second. They tacked on another run in the third, three in the fourth and one more in the fifth. "We gave up five walks, two (hit by pitches), and … [Read more...] about ‘Things just kind of snowballed on us’: Hawks tumble to Dowling in 5 innings

‘We fly under the radar, but we’re a good team’: Jags split with No. 2 Pleasant Valley

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The second-ranked Pleasant Valley baseball team entered Wednesday's doubleheader at Ankeny Centennial as one of the state's hottest squads, riding a 10-game winning streak. But the Jaguars had won four consecutive games and six of their last seven, so they were confident as well. "There's no reason not to be confident with all the work we've put in," … [Read more...] about ‘We fly under the radar, but we’re a good team’: Jags split with No. 2 Pleasant Valley

Ankeny seniors Benge, Gloviak named to Class 4A all-tournament team

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Ankeny seniors Landon Benge and Dylan Gloviak were both named to the Class 4A all-tournament team after leading the Hawks to the semifinals for the first time since 2018. Benge scored a pair of goals in Ankeny's 3-1 win over second-ranked Des Moines Roosevelt in the quarterfinals on June 2 at Mediacom Stadium. He finished the season with 27 goals, which … [Read more...] about Ankeny seniors Benge, Gloviak named to Class 4A all-tournament team

‘It feels good!’: Kennedy sets Centennial home run record during Jaguars’ sweep

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Jordyn Kennedy has officially entered into the Ankeny Centennial softball record book. During Monday night’s home doubleheader against Dowling Catholic, the junior slugger crushed her 36th career home run to surpass former Ankeny and Centennial great Kendyl Lindaman as the Jaguars’ new all-time home run record holder. “It … [Read more...] about ‘It feels good!’: Kennedy sets Centennial home run record during Jaguars’ sweep

‘This is just a real gritty team’: Jags sweep Dowling behind pair of complete games

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Ankeny Centennial baseball coach Mark Hey hasn't had to make too many pitching changes in the first 15 games of the season. With one of the deepest pitching staffs in the state, the Jaguars have already thrown several complete games. They had two more on Monday from Elijah Starr and Colton Arndt in a doubleheader sweep over visiting Dowling … [Read more...] about ‘This is just a real gritty team’: Jags sweep Dowling behind pair of complete games

‘Our inexperience hurt us’: Wolves use late rally to complete sweep over Ankeny

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Last Thursday, the Ankeny baseball team rallied for six runs in the seventh inning to earn an improbable 12-8 victory at Southeast Polk in the second game of a doubleheader. On Monday, the Hawks experienced the other side of a dramatic rally. Visiting Waukee Northwest scored four runs in the seventh inning to forge a 6-6 tie, then plated four more in … [Read more...] about ‘Our inexperience hurt us’: Wolves use late rally to complete sweep over Ankeny

‘We’ve just got to tighten up our defense’: Errors prove costly as Hawkettes fall twice

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Ankeny softball pitchers Aubrey Lensmeyer and Kaylyn Miller both had decent outings on the mound Monday against one of the state's best teams. Unfortunately, a lack of timely hits and some costly errors resulted in a pair of losses for the 13th-ranked Hawkettes. No. 2 Waukee Northwest swept both games of a CIML Conference doubleheader on the road, 5-1 … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve just got to tighten up our defense’: Errors prove costly as Hawkettes fall twice

Balashaitis, Martin, Macke, Paoli selected to Class 3A all-state first team by IGCA

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Girls' soccer standouts Maddison Balashaitis and Ava Martin of Ankeny Centennial have been named to the Class 3A all-state first team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association for the second straight year. Ankeny star Alli Macke was also a repeat selection. She was joined on the squad by teammate Ava Paoli. Balashaitis, a senior defender, helped the … [Read more...] about Balashaitis, Martin, Macke, Paoli selected to Class 3A all-state first team by IGCA

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Emmarie Becker, Centennial girls’ soccer

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Junior midfielder Emmarie Becker helped the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team to a 15-4-2 record this season. The Jaguars advanced to the Class 3A semifinals of last week's state tournament before dropping a 2-1 decision to Linn-Mar (Marion) at the Lied Recreation Fields in Ames. Becker scored five goals and had four assists on the season. She scored … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Emmarie Becker, Centennial girls’ soccer

Centennial standouts Balashaitis, Martin named to Class 3A all-tournament team

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Seniors Maddison Balashaitis and Ava Martin of the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team were both named to the Class 3A all-tournament team on Saturday at the Cyclone Sports Complex in Ames. Balashaitis, a defender, was selected to the squad for the second straight year. She scored a goal and also converted a penalty kick in the shootout in the Jaguars' … [Read more...] about Centennial standouts Balashaitis, Martin named to Class 3A all-tournament team

Centennial boys return to Roosevelt, sweep pair of games against Roughriders

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When the Ankeny Centennial baseball team opened the season on May 19 at Des Moines Roosevelt, the Jaguars got off to a good start before the non-conference doubleheader was postponed due to rain. Centennial finished the job on Friday. Play resumed in the top of the fourth inning with the Jaguars holding a 2-0 lead. They went on to post an 8-1 victory … [Read more...] about Centennial boys return to Roosevelt, sweep pair of games against Roughriders

‘To be mentioned alongside her is a great honor!’: Kennedy ties Lindaman’s HR mark

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Jordyn Kennedy helped the Ankeny Centennial softball team to a pair of victories in the Jaguar Invitational on Friday. The junior slugger also made some history. Kennedy went 3-for-3 with a double, two home runs and four RBIs as the third-ranked Jaguars opened the tournament with a 6-3 win over Creston, the No. 15 team in Class 4A. She now has seven … [Read more...] about ‘To be mentioned alongside her is a great honor!’: Kennedy ties Lindaman’s HR mark

Hawks rally for 6 runs in 7th inning to salvage split of twinbill at S.E. Polk

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The Ankeny baseball team was on the verge of being swept on the road Thursday at Southeast Polk. After dropping an 8-0 decision in the first game of a doubleheader, the Hawks fell behind in the nightcap, 7-2, after four innings. But Ankeny refused to go away quietly. A four-run fifth inning cut Southeast Polk's lead to 7-6. After the Rams got a run … [Read more...] about Hawks rally for 6 runs in 7th inning to salvage split of twinbill at S.E. Polk

‘We just had to trust the process’: Ankeny girls beat S.E. Polk to end four-game slide

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It was a much-needed win for the Ankeny softball team. After dropping a 3-2 decision at 11th-ranked Southeast Polk in the opener of a doubleheader on Thursday, the No. 13 Hawkettes ended a four-game losing skid with a 6-4 victory in the nightcap. Ankeny took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, then used a four-run second to break the game open. The Rams … [Read more...] about ‘We just had to trust the process’: Ankeny girls beat S.E. Polk to end four-game slide

‘I’m heartbroken for our team’: Jaguars fall to Linn-Mar on Roberts’ spectacular shot

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team had state championship aspirations in 2025, but the Jaguars' hopes fell just short. It was a deep shot in the 76th minute by Abi Roberts of Linn-Mar (Marion) that ended Centennial’s season on Thursday as the third-ranked Jaguars dropped a 2-1 decision in the Class 3A semifinals at … [Read more...] about ‘I’m heartbroken for our team’: Jaguars fall to Linn-Mar on Roberts’ spectacular shot

‘Nobody thought we’d be here’: Hawks end season with semifinal loss to Valley

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Ankeny senior Landon Benge stood on the field at Mediacom Stadium, his future home as a member of the Drake men's soccer team. His brilliant high school career had just ended a few minutes earlier, short of his ultimate goal. "I am so proud of this team," Benge said as he hugged his teammates after eighth-ranked Ankeny fell to No. 1 Valley, 1-0, in a … [Read more...] about ‘Nobody thought we’d be here’: Hawks end season with semifinal loss to Valley

Jaguars rely on pitching, defense, timely hits to split with No. 7 Waukee NW

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Over the last five games, the Ankeny Centennial baseball team has struggled to score some runs. Fortunately for the Jaguars, a combination of strong pitching performances, solid defense and a few timely hits has allowed them to go 2-3 during that stretch. On Thursday, ninth-ranked Centennial posted a 3-0 victory at No. 7 Waukee Northwest in the first … [Read more...] about Jaguars rely on pitching, defense, timely hits to split with No. 7 Waukee NW

No. 2 Waukee NW blanks Centennial, then No. 3 Jaguars return favor in nightcap

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team rebounded in a big way from its first shutout loss of the season. After dropping a 4-0 decision at second-ranked Waukee Northwest in the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday, the No. 3 Jaguars bounced back with a 9-0 victory in six innings in the nightcap to earn a split. "It was a good night against one of the … [Read more...] about No. 2 Waukee NW blanks Centennial, then No. 3 Jaguars return favor in nightcap