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Abby Rusher

Five Jaguars earn all-state honors along with Ankeny’s Rusher, ACA’s Quick

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Five Ankeny Centennial softball players have received all-state honors from the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association along with Abby Rusher of Ankeny and Katie Quick of Ankeny Christian Academy. The Jaguars placed Jordyn Kennedy, Mady Ott and Lauren Sandholm on the Class 5A first team. They were joined on the squad by Rusher, who was a repeat pick along with … [Read more...] about Five Jaguars earn all-state honors along with Ankeny’s Rusher, ACA’s Quick

Centennial trio, ACA duo earn all-district honors along with Ankeny’s Rusher

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Ankeny Centennial softball standouts Jordyn Kennedy, Mady Ott and Lauren Sandholm have been selected to the Class 5A West all-district team along with Ankeny star Abby Rusher, while the Ankeny Christian Academy duo of Riese Gjerde and Katie Quick were named to the Class 1A South Central all-district squad. The teams were selected by the Iowa Girls' Coaches … [Read more...] about Centennial trio, ACA duo earn all-district honors along with Ankeny’s Rusher

Rusher leads Ankeny to 4th-place finish, lands spot on Class 5A all-tourney team

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Ankeny senior Abby Rusher was named to the Class 5A all-tournament team after leading the Hawkettes to a fourth-place finish in the state softball tournament this week at Fort Dodge. Rusher went 4-for-10 at the plate with at least one hit in all three games. She went 2-for-3 and had a solo home run, her first of the season, in the Hawkettes' 8-1 loss to … [Read more...] about Rusher leads Ankeny to 4th-place finish, lands spot on Class 5A all-tourney team

‘You could feel this’: Ankeny girls blank Wolves, will face No. 1 Valley in semifinals

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On paper, the ninth-ranked Ankeny softball team appeared to be facing an uphill battle against No. 4 Waukee Northwest in Monday's Class 5A quarterfinals at the state tournament. Ankeny coach Dave Bingham, though, had plenty of confidence in his squad. "I don't know if a team was more prepared for a game in all of my years of coaching," Bingham said … [Read more...] about ‘You could feel this’: Ankeny girls blank Wolves, will face No. 1 Valley in semifinals

‘We have some unfinished business’: Hawkettes top S.E. Polk, earn trip to state

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The struggles of early July have been long forgotten by the Ankeny softball players. The ninth-ranked Hawkettes are headed to the state tournament. Abby Rusher tossed a six-hitter and Kensington Arringdale hit a home run to lead Ankeny past No. 10 Southeast Polk, 6-2, in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday at Ankeny. The Hawkettes (21-20), who ended … [Read more...] about ‘We have some unfinished business’: Hawkettes top S.E. Polk, earn trip to state

Ankeny’s Rusher, Centennial’s Starr to play in Senior All-Star Softball Classic

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Seniors Abby Rusher of Ankeny and Addi Starr of Ankeny Centennial have been selected to play in the Senior All-Star Softball Classic on July 27 at Waukee. Rusher will be a member of the Red Team coached by Katie Burman of Clarksville and Andy Pals of Waukee. Starr will play for the White Team coached by Troy Houge of Collins-Maxwell and Megan Anderson of … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Rusher, Centennial’s Starr to play in Senior All-Star Softball Classic

‘I think we flipped a switch’: Hawkettes end North Polk’s 21-game winning streak

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Abby Rusher and the Ankeny softball team took a big step forward on Saturday. Rusher racked up 26 strikeouts across 13 innings as the eighth-ranked Hawkettes posted a pair of victories at Oskaloosa, capped off by a 4-0 win over North Polk. The Comets are the No. 1 team in Class 4A. "This was definitely a key day in our season," said Ankeny coach Dave … [Read more...] about ‘I think we flipped a switch’: Hawkettes end North Polk’s 21-game winning streak

‘I’ve been itching to get back’: Johnson returns, blasts homer in win over Dodgers

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It was a Senior Night that Cassie Johnson will never forget. The Ankeny softball star returned to the team's lineup for the first time in nearly a month and blasted a two-run homer in her first at-bat, helping the eighth-ranked Hawkettes to a 4-3 victory over Class 4A No. 3 Fort Dodge in a non-conference game on Wednesday. Johnson, who had suffered a … [Read more...] about ‘I’ve been itching to get back’: Johnson returns, blasts homer in win over Dodgers

Jaguars cruise to championship of Fort Dodge Invitational; Ankeny places 4th

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Mady Ott and the Ankeny Centennial softball team feel right at home at Harlan Rogers Park. Ott homered twice and drove in seven runs on Saturday as the fifth-ranked Jaguars cruised to the championship of the 16-team Fort Dodge Invitational. They rallied for an 11-5 victory over Class 3A No. 1 Williamsburg in the semifinals, then followed with an 8-2 … [Read more...] about Jaguars cruise to championship of Fort Dodge Invitational; Ankeny places 4th

Rusher, Parton lead Hawkettes past Urbandale in first game of doubleheader

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The Ankeny softball team had to settle for a split on Thursday at Urbandale. After the seventh-ranked Hawkettes posted a 2-1 victory in the opener of a CIML Conference doubleheader, Urbandale bounced back with a 3-2 win in the nightcap. The J-Hawks ended a 10-game losing streak to Ankeny. "We're still stuck in that hitting rut a little bit," said … [Read more...] about Rusher, Parton lead Hawkettes past Urbandale in first game of doubleheader

‘It’s our time right now’: Ankeny holds off Waukee, earns first trip to state since ’15

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The drought is finally over for the Ankeny softball team. The second-ranked Hawkettes held on for a 4-3 victory over No. 14 Waukee in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday, allowing them to qualify for state for the first time since 2015. "It feels great," said Ankeny shortstop Kendra Lewis. "I love this team so much. It's a great opportunity for us and … [Read more...] about ‘It’s our time right now’: Ankeny holds off Waukee, earns first trip to state since ’15

‘I just reminded myself to relax’: Riesberg homers twice, leads Ankeny to two wins

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Rylee Riesberg and the Ankeny softball team can't wait for the start of postseason play. That's because the third-ranked Hawkettes are one of the state's hottest teams. Riesberg homered in both games, the first two homers of her varsity career, as Ankeny defeated a pair of opponents on Monday at Cedar Rapids. The Hawkettes posted a 4-3 victory over … [Read more...] about ‘I just reminded myself to relax’: Riesberg homers twice, leads Ankeny to two wins

Rusher, Winfrey lead Hawkettes past Davis County, Estherville Lincoln Central

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Junior Abby Rusher and senior Kendra Winfrey have handled most of the pitching duties this season for the Ankeny softball team. On Friday in the Brent Prange Classic, the duo combined for a pair of shutouts while also going 7-for-13 at the plate with five RBIs. "I like splitting games," said Rusher. "It helps keep the opponent on their toes. Me and … [Read more...] about Rusher, Winfrey lead Hawkettes past Davis County, Estherville Lincoln Central

‘I didn’t think it was gone’: Rusher’s 3-run blast lifts Ankeny past No. 1 Indianola

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Ankeny junior Abby Rusher earned a scholarship to play softball at Creighton primarily due to her potential as a pitcher. On Tuesday, the hard-throwing righthander demonstrated her prowess as a clutch hitter, too. Rusher hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning to give the fourth-ranked Hawkettes a 3-2 victory in a non-conference game at Indianola, … [Read more...] about ‘I didn’t think it was gone’: Rusher’s 3-run blast lifts Ankeny past No. 1 Indianola

Ankeny’s Rusher commits to Creighton, cites ‘unparalleled opportunities’

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Abby Rusher is the latest Ankeny softball player to make a verbal commitment. The junior pitcher announced on Twitter Tuesday that she has decided to play for Creighton. "I am so excited to announce that I will be continuing my academic and athletic career at Creighton University," Rusher tweeted. "I am so thankful for my family and teammates that … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Rusher commits to Creighton, cites ‘unparalleled opportunities’

Hawkettes rout C.R. Kennedy behind timely hitting, Rusher’s strong effort

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The Ankeny softball team didn't need a lot of help from its opponent on Saturday. The 11th-ranked Hawkettes got some anyway. Ankeny pounded out nine hits and took advantage of six errors by visiting Cedar Rapids Kennedy to defeat the Cougars, 13-2, in five innings in a Class 5A regional semifinal. "It was awesome," said Ankeny outfielder Eva Fulk, … [Read more...] about Hawkettes rout C.R. Kennedy behind timely hitting, Rusher’s strong effort