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No. 5 Centennial uses 8-run 3rd inning to win nightcap, salvages split at Valley

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The Ankeny Centennial baseball team earned a split of Wednesday's doubleheader at Valley with a 13-6 victory in the second game. The fifth-ranked Jaguars, who dropped a 6-5 decision in eight innings in the opener, are now 2-2 in the CIML Conference and 6-2 overall. Valley's records are 1-3 and 4-6. Centennial used an eight-run third inning to build a … [Read more...] about No. 5 Centennial uses 8-run 3rd inning to win nightcap, salvages split at Valley

Jaguars open CIML Conference play by sweeping doubleheader at No. 2 Valley

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After dropping five spots to No. 6 in the latest Class 5A rankings, the Ankeny Centennial softball team showed on Wednesday that the defending state champion Jaguars don't plan to fall any further. Centennial opened CIML Conference play with an impressive sweep at No. 2 Valley. The Jaguars posted a 4-0 win in the opener, then completed the sweep with an … [Read more...] about Jaguars open CIML Conference play by sweeping doubleheader at No. 2 Valley

Gerstel, Davies toss back-to-back shutouts in Hawks’ sweep at Ames

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A road trip to Ames resulted in back-to-back shutouts for the Ankeny baseball team on Wednesday. The Hawks posted a 12-0 victory in the opener, then completed a sweep of the non-conference doubleheader with a 9-0 win. They improved to 5-6 overall. "The boys played pretty well tonight," said Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz. "We turned like three or four double … [Read more...] about Gerstel, Davies toss back-to-back shutouts in Hawks’ sweep at Ames

‘I’m absolutely proud of our girls’: Jaguars lose heartbreaker to Waukee NW in PKs

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There was nothing for the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer players to hang their heads about. The eighth-ranked Jaguars ended their season on Tuesday with a 3-2 loss to No. 1 Waukee Northwest in a shootout in the Class 3A quarterfinals of the state tournament at Cownie Park. "I'm not going to fault the players," said Centennial coach Chris Allen, whose … [Read more...] about ‘I’m absolutely proud of our girls’: Jaguars lose heartbreaker to Waukee NW in PKs

‘Our defense played amazing’: Hawkettes shut down Waukee, advance to semis

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Two of the state's top defensive teams collided in the Class 3A quarterfinals of the girls' state soccer tournament on Tuesday at Cownie Park. Only one of them kept a clean sheet. Third-ranked Ankeny got a pair of goals from Emma Gott and posted a 3-0 victory over No. 6 Waukee. The Warriors, who also dropped a 1-0 decision to Ankeny on April 5, … [Read more...] about ‘Our defense played amazing’: Hawkettes shut down Waukee, advance to semis

‘This was the real Joey Oakie’: Jags’ star fans 16 batters in 4-0 win over Dowling

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A much-anticipated showdown between two of the state's top high school baseball prospects lived up to the hype. Ankeny Centennial's Joey Oakie outdueled fellow righthander Trever Baumler as the fifth-ranked Jaguars posted a 4-0 victory in a CIML Conference game at No. 8 Dowling Catholic on Tuesday. "Baumler's a great player, and I've grown up playing … [Read more...] about ‘This was the real Joey Oakie’: Jags’ star fans 16 batters in 4-0 win over Dowling

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: McKenna Hilton, Centennial girls’ soccer

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Senior forward McKenna Hilton has helped the eighth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team to a 13-6 record. She had an assist on Thursday as the Jaguars posted a 2-1 victory over No. 11 Southeast Polk in a Class 3A regional final, punching the team's ticket to this week's state tournament. Hilton has racked up six goals and three assists on the … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: McKenna Hilton, Centennial girls’ soccer

‘We were ready to attack’: Boyle, Jaguars top Ankeny girls at Johnston Invitational

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Cora Boyle and the Ankeny Centennial softball team didn't have any time to dwell on Thursday's season-opening loss to Norwalk. About 12 hours later, the top-ranked Jaguars were back on the diamond at the Johnston Invitational, where Boyle tossed a three-hitter and also went 2-for-4 at the plate in a 4-2 victory over No. 5 Ankeny. "We were ready to … [Read more...] about ‘We were ready to attack’: Boyle, Jaguars top Ankeny girls at Johnston Invitational

Hawks rally past Davenport North, but then fall to North Polk at Heggen Invite

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The Ankeny baseball team rallied for a 10-8 victory over Davenport North before dropping a 4-2 decision to North Polk in the Tim Heggen Invitational on Saturday. The Hawks used a seven-run fifth inning to erase a 5-3 deficit against Davenport North (4-2). The Wildcats had taken the lead with a five-run fourth. "We responded to their big inning with a 7 … [Read more...] about Hawks rally past Davenport North, but then fall to North Polk at Heggen Invite

No. 1 Jaguars romp past North Polk, Davenport North at Heggen Invitational

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After losing at Waukee on Monday, the Ankeny Centennial baseball players had to wait several days to play another game. The wait was worth it. The top-ranked Jaguars defeated a pair of opponents in the Tim Heggen Invitational on Saturday. They rolled to an 11-1 victory over North Polk in six innings, then followed with a 10-2 triumph over Davenport … [Read more...] about No. 1 Jaguars romp past North Polk, Davenport North at Heggen Invitational

‘I felt welcomed from the start’: Ankeny’s Dietz to play soccer for Bulldogs

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Ankeny soccer standout Camryn Dietz has verbally committed to play for Drake. Dietz, a junior midfielder, announced her decision on social media a week ago. "I am so excited to announce that l've committed to further my academic and athletic career to play Division I soccer at Drake University!" Dietz tweeted on X. "Thank you to all my family, friends, … [Read more...] about ‘I felt welcomed from the start’: Ankeny’s Dietz to play soccer for Bulldogs

‘I’m glad they get another shot at it’: Centennial seniors earn 4th trip to state

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The seniors on the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team will get at least one more opportunity to play at Cownie Park. The eighth-ranked Jaguars advanced to next week's state tournament by defeating No. 11 Southeast Polk, 2-1, in a Class 3A regional final on Thursday at Centennial. "I was just talking to Gabby (Lawrence), McKenna (Hilton) and Avery … [Read more...] about ‘I’m glad they get another shot at it’: Centennial seniors earn 4th trip to state

‘I played the course more how I wanted to’: Drefke shoots 76, ties for 16th place

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The final round of her high school golf career was a memorable one for Ankeny Centennial's Payton Drefke. Drefke shot a 5-over-par 76 on Friday in the second round of the girls' Class 4A state meet at Otter Creek. She posted a 36-hole total of 157 to tie for 16th place with five other golfers. "She played very well today," said Centennial coach John … [Read more...] about ‘I played the course more how I wanted to’: Drefke shoots 76, ties for 16th place

‘I’m sure she will be back’: Centennial’s Baca gains some state-meet experience

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Talia Baca's third-place match in a girls' Class 2A regional tennis tournament earlier this month turned out to be for more than just pride. Baca's three-set victory over Emily Allen of Indianola allowed her to get into the state singles tournament on Friday when the district champion, Lexi Moen of Valley, had to withdraw due to sickness. "We found out … [Read more...] about ‘I’m sure she will be back’: Centennial’s Baca gains some state-meet experience

Hawkettes finally break through against Dowling’s defense, advance to state

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It wasn't easy, but the Ankeny girls' soccer team is headed back to the state tournament. Emma Gott and Sydney Van Houweling each scored a goal as the third-ranked Hawkettes defeated visiting Dowling Catholic, 2-0, in a Class 3A regional final on Thursday at Northview. "This will be my fourth time going to state, but for some reason it feels … [Read more...] about Hawkettes finally break through against Dowling’s defense, advance to state

‘You just have to tip your cap’: Brewer hurls 2-hitter, hits HR in win over Jaguars

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Ankeny Centennial freshman Lauren Sandholm showed on Thursday why she is one of the state's top softball pitchers. Unfortunately, Norwalk's Carly Brewer was just a little bit better. Brewer tossed a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts and also homered for the game's only run as Norwalk, the No. 2 team in Class 4A, posted a 1-0 victory at No. 1 Ankeny … [Read more...] about ‘You just have to tip your cap’: Brewer hurls 2-hitter, hits HR in win over Jaguars

Drefke shoots 10-over-par 81 in opening round of Class 4A state golf meet

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Ankeny Centennial senior Payton Drefke carded a 10-over-par 81 in the opening round of the girls' Class 4A state golf meet on Thursday at Otter Creek. She is tied for 21st place in the field of 70 golfers heading into Friday's final round. Drefke made 11 pars and had just five bogeys. But a triple bogey on the par-4, No. 2 hole and a double bogey on the … [Read more...] about Drefke shoots 10-over-par 81 in opening round of Class 4A state golf meet

Hawks use 3-run 7th inning to beat Waukee, but Warriors salvage split

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The Ankeny baseball team scored three runs in the seventh inning to post a 7-4 victory in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday at Waukee. The Warriors then followed with a 6-2 win in the nightcap to earn a split of the twinbill. They are now 2-1 in the CIML Conference and 4-2 overall, while Ankeny's records are 1-2 and 2-5. "We didn't play … [Read more...] about Hawks use 3-run 7th inning to beat Waukee, but Warriors salvage split