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Jaguars edge Urbandale in opener, then erupt for 17 runs to complete sweep

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team continued its winning ways on Monday night. The 11th-ranked Jaguars swept a doubleheader against visiting Urbandale to raise their record to 13-3. They posted a 1-0 victory in the opener, then completed the sweep with a 17-8 triumph for their sixth win in the last seven games. "The girls have been coming to the park … [Read more...] about Jaguars edge Urbandale in opener, then erupt for 17 runs to complete sweep

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Mo Watson, Ankeny baseball

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Senior catcher Mo Watson has helped the second-ranked Ankeny baseball team to an 8-4 record. He is batting .344 with three doubles, one triple and nine RBIs. Watson was also a standout last fall on the football field, where the linebacker made 53 tackles while helping the Hawks reach the Class 4A quarterfinals. He was an all-district second-team pick for … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Mo Watson, Ankeny baseball

Former Ankeny, Centennial standouts to join St. Cloud State’s new soccer program

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When St. Cloud State dropped its football program after the 2019 season, it brought an abrupt end to Avery Knief's career. The former Ankeny Centennial punter enjoyed a strong freshman season for the Huskies, averaging 37.5 yards on 70 punts. He considered transferring to a different school, but eventually elected to stay at St. Cloud State. Now, three … [Read more...] about Former Ankeny, Centennial standouts to join St. Cloud State’s new soccer program

Centennial baseball team ends losing skid with sweep over Tigers

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After scoring a total of just seven runs during a four-game losing streak, the Ankeny Centennial baseball team needed to bounce back Friday in a big way. The Jaguars responded with a doubleheader sweep over visiting Valley. Centennial rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to post a 7-5 victory in the opener, then followed with a 4-1 triumph in the second … [Read more...] about Centennial baseball team ends losing skid with sweep over Tigers

Jaguars complete sweep over defending champs on Burnett’s walk-off blast

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A simple approach at the plate led to a game-winning home run by Franie Burnett on Friday night. The senior shortstop homered in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the 11th-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team a 6-5 victory over No. 6 Valley and a sweep of the CIML doubleheader. The host Jaguars also won the first game, 6-0. "I was just looking … [Read more...] about Jaguars complete sweep over defending champs on Burnett’s walk-off blast

‘I think we’re going to keep rolling now’: Somers sparks sweep with walk-off hit

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The Ankeny baseball players may have violated one of the social distancing guidelines on Friday. But in the Hawks' defense, they had a good reason to do so. Kade Somers hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning to give second-ranked Ankeny a 2-1 victory over No. 5 Waukee in the first game of a CIML doubleheader. The host Hawks then … [Read more...] about ‘I think we’re going to keep rolling now’: Somers sparks sweep with walk-off hit

A PERFECT DOZEN: No. 2 Waukee sweeps Hawkettes, improves to 12-0

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The Ankeny softball team had a chance to knock off second-ranked Waukee in the first game of Friday's doubleheader at Ankeny. In the second game, the No. 15 Hawkettes never had a chance. Waukee held on for a 2-1 victory in the opener, then completed a sweep with a 16-2 win over the Hawkettes. The Warriors improved to 12-0 on the season, while Ankeny's … [Read more...] about A PERFECT DOZEN: No. 2 Waukee sweeps Hawkettes, improves to 12-0

Jaguars take No. 1 Carlisle into extra innings before dropping 7-6 decision

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team was just three outs away from knocking off the top-ranked squad in Class 4A on Thursday night. The 11th-ranked Jaguars took a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning during a non-conference game at Carlisle. But they couldn't close the deal. The Wildcats scored the tying run in the seventh to force extra … [Read more...] about Jaguars take No. 1 Carlisle into extra innings before dropping 7-6 decision

Hawkettes move into rankings after handing Valley its first loss

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Slowly but surely, the Ankeny softball team is beginning to earn some respect. The Hawkettes moved into the Class 5A rankings for the first time this season on Thursday after splitting a doubleheader at No. 6 Valley on Wednesday. They are now ranked 15th with a 9-3 record. Ankeny coach Dave Bingham would have preferred to keep his team out of the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes move into rankings after handing Valley its first loss

Cox fires 1-hitter to complete Maroons’ sweep over Centennial

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Even without Carter Baumler, the Dowling Catholic baseball team still boasts some talented pitchers. The seventh-ranked Maroons got a one-hitter from Connor Cox and posted a 4-0 victory over visiting Ankeny Centennial to complete a sweep of Wednesday's CIML doubleheader. Dowling won the first game, 4-3, as a trio of pitchers combined to scatter seven … [Read more...] about Cox fires 1-hitter to complete Maroons’ sweep over Centennial

Hawks end three-game slide, earn split with 13-6 victory over Valley

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With a No. 2 ranking in Class 4A, the Ankeny baseball team entered the season with some high expectations. The Hawks have placed a lot of pressure on themselves to meet those expectations--and haven't always succeeded. Wednesday's doubleheader at Valley may have been a turning point for coach Joe Balvanz and his players. After Ankeny suffered its third … [Read more...] about Hawks end three-game slide, earn split with 13-6 victory over Valley

‘It was a total team effort’: Jaguars score 15 runs in pair of wins over Dowling

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There were a lot of crooked numbers put up on the Dowling Catholic softball scoreboard Wednesday night. Fortunately for Ankeny Centennial, it was the visiting team doing all of the damage. The 10th-ranked Jaguars scored multiple runs in every inning and rolled to a doubleheader sweep over their CIML rival. They posted a 15-0 victory in three innings in … [Read more...] about ‘It was a total team effort’: Jaguars score 15 runs in pair of wins over Dowling

Hawkettes rout S.E. Polk in nightcap to salvage split of twinbill

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For the second time in a week, the Ankeny softball team went on the road Tuesday and split a doubleheader against a ranked opponent. After dropping a 9-4 decision to No. 14 Southeast Polk in the opener, the Hawkettes rebounded to win the nightcap, 11-0, in five innings. They are now 8-2 on the season. "We got after it every inning as a unified force," … [Read more...] about Hawkettes rout S.E. Polk in nightcap to salvage split of twinbill

Jaguars fall to Winterset, will look to rebound at Dowling Catholic

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team suffered a rare letdown on Tuesday night. The 10th-ranked Jaguars traveled to Winterset for a non-conference game and dropped an 11-4 decision to the Huskies, who are ranked 10th in Class 4A. Winterset overcame an early 3-2 deficit with three runs in the third inning, three in the fourth and three more in the sixth. … [Read more...] about Jaguars fall to Winterset, will look to rebound at Dowling Catholic

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Hannah Hogan, Ankeny softball

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Junior Hannah Hogan has helped the Ankeny softball team to an 8-2 record. She is batting .125 on the season. Hogan has played in six games and made two starts. She singled and scored a run as the Hawkettes posted an 11-0 victory over No. 14 Southeast Polk in five innings to salvage a split of Tuesday's doubleheader at Pleasant Hill. "She switched … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Hannah Hogan, Ankeny softball

No. 3 S.E. Polk walks off with sweep over No. 2 Hawks

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The schedule got a lot tougher for the Ankeny baseball team on Monday night. The second-ranked Hawks discovered that they still have a lot of work to do. Ankeny traveled to No. 3 Southeast Polk for a CIML doubleheader and got swept by the undefeated Rams, 8-1 and 7-6. "They exposed some things that we need to work on," said Ankeny coach Joe … [Read more...] about No. 3 S.E. Polk walks off with sweep over No. 2 Hawks

No. 4 Dragons sweep Centennial in matchup of unbeaten baseball teams

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The Johnston baseball team entered Monday's doubleheader against Ankeny Centennial with an impressive resume. The fourth-ranked Dragons had played only one seven-inning game while outscoring their first six opponents by an 87-4 margin. Only once had the Dragons scored fewer than 12 runs in the first week of the season. The visiting Jaguars managed to … [Read more...] about No. 4 Dragons sweep Centennial in matchup of unbeaten baseball teams

Ankeny basketball star Bayless to play for juco power Indian Hills

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Ankeny basketball standout Braxton Bayless has verbally committed to play for juco powerhouse Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa. Bayless announced his decision via Twitter last week. "100% Committed #JucoProduct #Bigger Plans," he tweeted. Bayless averaged 22.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while leading the Hawks to a 21-5 record and the … [Read more...] about Ankeny basketball star Bayless to play for juco power Indian Hills

Ankeny’s Reynolds to play volleyball at University of Denver

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Ankeny volleyball player Ava Reynolds received her first scholarship offer last week. It took the junior-to-be less than 24 hours to accept it. Reynolds announced on June 16 that she has verbally committed to the University of Denver. "Denver was the first school I talked to and got an offer from," said Reynolds. "I heard from several other schools … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Reynolds to play volleyball at University of Denver