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‘We’re just not scoring enough runs’: Hawks struggle at plate, fall twice to NW

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It's too early for the Ankeny baseball team to panic. The Hawks just need to get their bats going. Ankeny dropped both ends of a CIML Conference doubleheader against visiting Waukee Northwest on Monday. The ninth-ranked Wolves posted a 6-2 victory in the opener before completing the sweep with a 4-1 win. "I didn't think either of their starters was … [Read more...] about ‘We’re just not scoring enough runs’: Hawks struggle at plate, fall twice to NW

‘It’s a really cool honor’: Jaguars’ Oakie named Gatorade Iowa player of the year

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Ankeny Centennial baseball star Joey Oakie has been named the Gatorade Iowa player of the year for 2024. The senior pitcher has helped the fourth-ranked Jaguars to a 9-2 record. He tossed a one-hitter and had 13 strikeouts to lead Centennial to a 5-2 victory over No. 1 Johnston in the opener of a CIML Conference doubleheader on Monday, snapping the … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a really cool honor’: Jaguars’ Oakie named Gatorade Iowa player of the year

Centennial’s Ty Duax joins Ankeny duo of Benge, Gloviak on all-CIML first team

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Ankeny Centennial standout Ty Duax has been named to the CIML Conference first team by a vote of the league's boys' soccer coaches along with the Ankeny duo of Landon Benge and Dylan Gloviak. Duax, a senior midfielder, earned first-team all-conference honors for the fourth consecutive year. He was honored in the CIML Iowa Conference in 2021-22 before the … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Ty Duax joins Ankeny duo of Benge, Gloviak on all-CIML first team

Ankeny trio, Centennial’s Balashaitis named to CIML Conference first team

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Twelve players from Ankeny and nine more from Ankeny Centennial have received all-conference honors from the girls' soccer coaches in the CIML Conference. Senior forward Emma Gott, junior midfielder Alli Macke and junior defender Sophie Loeffler of Ankeny were all named to the first team along with junior defender Maddison Balashaitis of Centennial. … [Read more...] about Ankeny trio, Centennial’s Balashaitis named to CIML Conference first team

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Leyton Kolln, Ankeny Centennial baseball

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Senior catcher Leyton Kolln has helped the fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial baseball team to a 7-2 record, including a 2-2 mark in the CIML Conference. He has started all nine games. Kolln is batting .357 with one home run, two doubles and seven RBIs. He will play for Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Neb., next year. Here is some inside info on … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Leyton Kolln, Ankeny Centennial baseball

Centennial’s Balashaitis joins Ankeny’s Gott, Macke on Class 3A all-tourney team

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Girls' soccer standouts Emma Gott and Alli Macke of Ankeny and Maddison Balashaitis of Ankeny Centennial were named to the Class 3A all-tournament team on Saturday at Cownie Park. Gott and Macke helped the Hawkettes reach the semifinals of the state tournament earlier in the week. Balashaitis and the Jaguars took top-ranked Waukee Northwest into overtime … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Balashaitis joins Ankeny’s Gott, Macke on Class 3A all-tourney team

Irlmeier stays hot, but S.E. Polk uses 5-run 4th inning to post 6-4 win over Hawks

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The seventh-ranked Southeast Polk baseball team used a five-run fourth inning to erase a 3-1 deficit and went on to beat host Ankeny, 6-4, in a CIML Conference game on Friday. The Hawks lost despite another big night from junior outfielder Evan Irlmeier, who went 3-for-3 for the second straight game and drove in a pair of runs. After a slow start to the … [Read more...] about Irlmeier stays hot, but S.E. Polk uses 5-run 4th inning to post 6-4 win over Hawks

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Kennedy, Lincicum hit 2 HRs in Jaguars’ sweep over Creston

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Jordyn Kennedy and Kori Lincicum each homered twice as the Ankeny Centennial softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader against visiting Creston on Friday. Lincicum went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs and four RBIs as the sixth-ranked Jaguars won the opener, 11-1, in six innings. She now leads the team with three homers in seven games. Kennedy … [Read more...] about DOUBLE TROUBLE: Kennedy, Lincicum hit 2 HRs in Jaguars’ sweep over Creston

‘We had so many chances’: Hawkettes fall to No. 7 Bettendorf in Class 3A semifinals

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The game of soccer doesn't always reward the better team. It's a cruel reality that was endured by the Ankeny girls' squad on Thursday afternoon at Cownie Park. Despite dominating most of the contest, the third-ranked Hawkettes dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 7 Bettendorf in the Class 3A semifinals of the state tournament. The Bulldogs (17-3) advanced to … [Read more...] about ‘We had so many chances’: Hawkettes fall to No. 7 Bettendorf in Class 3A semifinals

Stewart, Carrasco lead way as Jaguars hand Dallas Center-Grimes its first loss

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Sean Stewart recorded 10 strikeouts over the first 6 2/3 innings to lead the fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial baseball team to an 8-3 victory at No. 4 Dallas Center-Grimes in a non-conference game on Thursday, handing the Mustangs their first loss of the season. Stewart (2-0) allowed just two earned runs on six hits before reaching his pitch limit with two … [Read more...] about Stewart, Carrasco lead way as Jaguars hand Dallas Center-Grimes its first loss

Two-time defending champs top Ankeny, extend their winning streak to 21 games

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The Ankeny baseball team allowed just six hits in a game against visiting Johnston on Thursday. But the top-ranked Dragons took advantage of six walks and six hit by pitches to post a 7-3 victory, extending their winning streak to 21 games dating back to last season. "We gave them 12 or 13 free bases, and that's an experienced lineup of juniors and … [Read more...] about Two-time defending champs top Ankeny, extend their winning streak to 21 games

‘We just couldn’t hold on’: Hawks’ late lead slips away in 3-2 loss to No. 2 Dowling

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A lot of blood, sweat and tears. The Ankeny boys' soccer players left it all on the field. The seventh-ranked Hawks led for much of the game before falling to No. 2 Dowling Catholic, 3-2, in the Class 4A quarterfinals of the state tournament on Wednesday night at Cownie Park. The Maroons never led until Kevin Copic scored the winning goal with just 1 … [Read more...] about ‘We just couldn’t hold on’: Hawks’ late lead slips away in 3-2 loss to No. 2 Dowling

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