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No. 1 Wolves shut out Ankeny, capture outright CIML Conference championship

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Despite dropping a 5-0 decision on Wednesday at top-ranked Waukee Northwest, the Ankeny softball team made the Wolves work for their 25th consecutive victory. Northwest led by only 2-0 through four innings. The Wolves tacked on a run in the fifth inning, then added two more in the sixth to wrap up the outright CIML Conference championship. "It was some … [Read more...] about No. 1 Wolves shut out Ankeny, capture outright CIML Conference championship

‘It was a tough one to lose’: Jaguars fall at Dowling on throwing error in 9th inning

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The Ankeny Centennial baseball team entered Wednesday's contest at Dowling Catholic with an 8-3 record and a seven-game winning streak in one-run decisions. The ninth-ranked Jaguars have demonstrated an ability to win close games, but this was one that got away from them. Dowling scored the winning run on an error in the bottom of the ninth inning to … [Read more...] about ‘It was a tough one to lose’: Jaguars fall at Dowling on throwing error in 9th inning

‘We needed those bats’: Jaguars pound out 11 hits in 9-5 victory at Dowling

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On a night when the Ankeny Centennial softball team committed three errors, the Jaguars' bats more than made up for the defensive mistakes. Third-ranked Centennial pounded out 11 hits, four of them for extra bases, and posted a 9-5 victory at Dowling Catholic on Wednesday to complete a sweep of the season series. "It was another quality opponent in the … [Read more...] about ‘We needed those bats’: Jaguars pound out 11 hits in 9-5 victory at Dowling

SENIOR SALUTE: No. 3 Jaguars celebrate trio of players with win over Fort Dodge

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The three seniors on the Ankeny Centennial softball team took a bow before leaving Tuesday's non-conference game against visiting Fort Dodge. With two outs in the top of the seventh inning, Centennial coach Brett Delaney replaced the trio of pitcher Aubrey Scieszinski, catcher Makenna Foster and left fielder Mary Brantley as the third-ranked Jaguars held … [Read more...] about SENIOR SALUTE: No. 3 Jaguars celebrate trio of players with win over Fort Dodge

‘We had some great at-bats’: Hawks top S.E. Polk for season-high 5th straight win

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The signs of progress have been there for the Ankeny baseball team. Now, the wins are coming as well. The Hawks extended their winning streak to a season-high five games with a 6-3 victory over visiting Southeast Polk in a make-up game on Tuesday. They improved to 7-12 in the CIML Conference and 12-19 overall, while the Rams' records fell to 10-10 and … [Read more...] about ‘We had some great at-bats’: Hawks top S.E. Polk for season-high 5th straight win

Hawkettes pound out 12 hits, but tumble to No. 6 S.E. Polk girls in extra innings

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The Ankeny softball team is hoping to get another shot at CIML Conference rival Southeast Polk. After the two squads split a doubleheader on June 5 at Pleasant Hill, the sixth-ranked Rams traveled to Ankeny on Tuesday for a make-up game and posted an 8-5 victory in eight innings. They scored two runs in the sixth inning to tie it at 5-5 and then used a … [Read more...] about Hawkettes pound out 12 hits, but tumble to No. 6 S.E. Polk girls in extra innings

Ankeny sweeps Maroons in potential preview of substate semifinal on July 14

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The Ankeny baseball team traveled to Dowling Catholic on Monday for a CIML Conference doubleheader against the Maroons, who could potentially host the Hawks again in a Class 4A substate semifinal on July 14. That possibility led to both squads making some adjustments to their lineups, especially with the use of their pitchers. Neither coach wanted the … [Read more...] about Ankeny sweeps Maroons in potential preview of substate semifinal on July 14

Severs shines on Senior Night, tosses 3-hit gem to lead Jaguars to win over Norwalk

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Darin Severs overcame a rocky start to remain unbeaten and the ninth-ranked Ankeny Centennial baseball team celebrated its Senior Night with an 8-2 victory over visiting Norwalk in a non-conference game on Monday. After giving up two runs in the first inning, one of which was unearned, Severs went on to toss a three-hitter. He walked three and had six … [Read more...] about Severs shines on Senior Night, tosses 3-hit gem to lead Jaguars to win over Norwalk

Lensmeyer hurls Hawkettes past Dowling in first game of doubleheader split

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If the Ankeny softball team is going to pull off any surprises in postseason play, the Hawkettes will likely need to rely on the right arm of senior pitcher Aubrey Lensmeyer. The South Dakota recruit tossed a four-hitter and had four strikeouts to lead Ankeny to a 2-1 victory at Dowling Catholic in the first game of a doubleheader on Monday. The Maroons … [Read more...] about Lensmeyer hurls Hawkettes past Dowling in first game of doubleheader split

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kori Lincicum, Ankeny Centennial softball

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Junior pitcher and outfielder Kori Lincicum has helped the third-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team to a 23-9 record, including a 15-5 mark in the CIML Conference. Lincicum is batting .418 with nine home runs, eight doubles and 31 RBIs. In the circle, she has compiled a 7-4 record with a 2.27 ERA and 68 strikeouts. Here is some inside info on … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kori Lincicum, Ankeny Centennial softball

Hawks rally for walk-off win over No. 2 C.R. Prairie, then top N. Scott at Prange Classic

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Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz often reminds his players that baseball is a unique sport. "I tell the guys all the time, 'This is the only game where you can't run out the clock. You can't dribble it out. You can't kneel on it. If you have outs left, you have a puncher's chance,'" Balvanz said. That proved to be the case in the Brent Prange Classic on … [Read more...] about Hawks rally for walk-off win over No. 2 C.R. Prairie, then top N. Scott at Prange Classic

‘We played some very good competition’: Hawkettes place 8th at Linn-Mar Invite

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For the second weekend in a row, the Ankeny softball squad earned an eighth-place finish in a 16-team tournament by winning its first-round game before dropping the next three contests. The Hawkettes posted a 5-0 victory over North Linn in the Linn-Mar Invitational on Friday at Marion. They then dropped a 6-2 decision in the quarterfinals to Cedar Rapids … [Read more...] about ‘We played some very good competition’: Hawkettes place 8th at Linn-Mar Invite

S.E. Polk boys use 5-run 3rd inning to win make-up contest against Jaguars

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The Southeast Polk baseball team batted around in the third inning and went on to beat ninth-ranked Ankeny Centennial, 9-4, in a CIML Conference make-up game on Saturday at Pleasant Hill. Kaden Hills hit a three-run triple to ignite the Rams' five-run inning that erased Centennial's early 2-1 lead. Noah Trexel followed with an RBI single off Colton Arndt … [Read more...] about S.E. Polk boys use 5-run 3rd inning to win make-up contest against Jaguars

Rams pound out 13 hits, defeat Centennial in 5 innings to capture season series

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This time, the Ankeny Centennial softball team was unable to make a huge comeback against CIML Conference rival Southeast Polk. Kennedy Borud and Jesslyn Stairs combined for six hits and five RBIs as the sixth-ranked Rams rolled to a 9-1 victory over No. 3 Centennial in five innings in the completion of a suspended game on Saturday at Pleasant … [Read more...] about Rams pound out 13 hits, defeat Centennial in 5 innings to capture season series

Bartine, Ott hit homers, drive in 4 runs in Centennial’s 5-inning victory over J-Hawks

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Friday's completion of a postponed CIML Conference softball game at Ankeny Centennial may have been a preview of a Class 5A regional semifinal next month. The third-ranked Jaguars erupted for eight runs in the fifth inning to walk off with a 14-6 victory over Urbandale. The contest was previously suspended due to rain on June 16. Coach Brett Delaney's … [Read more...] about Bartine, Ott hit homers, drive in 4 runs in Centennial’s 5-inning victory over J-Hawks

Jags get walk-off, inside-the-park homer from Reed, win twice at Prange Classic

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The Ankeny Centennial baseball team defeated a pair of ranked opponents in the Brent Prange Classic on Friday. The ninth-ranked Jaguars posted 3-2 wins over Van Meter and Ballard (Huxley). Van Meter is the No. 3 team in Class 2A, while Ballard is the No. 5 team in Class 3A. "I'm very proud of the guys," said Centennial coach Mark Hey. "It was a great … [Read more...] about Jags get walk-off, inside-the-park homer from Reed, win twice at Prange Classic

‘It’s a really cool opportunity’: Riordan named Central men’s basketball coach

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Former Ankeny basketball standout Conor Riordan got a call less than two weeks ago that changed his life. On the other end of the phone was Central College men's basketball coach Joe Steinkamp, who told his assistant coach that he was considering stepping down. "Not many people have given the Central program what he has. He's been an incredible mentor … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a really cool opportunity’: Riordan named Central men’s basketball coach

Regional softball pairings announced: Jaguars earn top seed, Ankeny hits road

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The Class 5A regional softball pairings have been announced by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. Third-ranked Ankeny Centennial (22-8) is the top seed in Region 3 and will host Urbandale (7-18) or Des Moines North (0-10) in a regional semifinal on Saturday, July 12 at 7 p.m. No. 14 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (17-15) will host Waterloo West (12-18) in … [Read more...] about Regional softball pairings announced: Jaguars earn top seed, Ankeny hits road

‘You don’t like losses, but we’ll regroup’: Jags fall to Waukee NW, drop out of first

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Ankeny Centennial's perch atop the CIML Conference baseball standings only lasted about 14 hours. After moving into sole possession of first place with a doubleheader sweep over visiting Ankeny on Wednesday night, the ninth-ranked Jaguars were back on their home field Thursday morning for a showdown against No. 6 Waukee Northwest, which gave coach Jeremy … [Read more...] about ‘You don’t like losses, but we’ll regroup’: Jags fall to Waukee NW, drop out of first