Brett Delaney

There has been no letdown for the Ankeny Centennial softball team after clinching the CIML Conference title. The top-ranked Jaguars closed out the regular season on Monday with a 5-1 victory at Norwalk in a non-conference game. The Warriors are ranked fifth in Class 4A. "We had eight games in the last week--all of them against rated opponents--and we … [Read more...] about Jaguars beat another ranked foe, close out regular season with 31-5 record

The Ankeny Centennial softball team remains unbeaten in the CIML Conference, despite Monday's loss at Waukee Northwest. Ava Smith hit a walk-off home run with two outs in the ninth inning to give third-ranked Northwest a 2-1 victory over the No. 1 Jaguars. The contest was a non-conference game because the two teams had already played a conference … [Read more...] about Kennedy hits her 9th home run, but Jaguars fall to Waukee NW in 9 innings

Perhaps it is time to give the Ankeny Centennial softball team a nickname. How about "The Bomb Squad"? The seventh-ranked Jaguars hit three more home runs on Monday and rolled to an 11-1 victory over visiting Southeast Warren in six innings in a non-conference game. The Warhawks (10-3) are ranked No. 1 in Class 1A. "Southeast Warren is a really good … [Read more...] about THE BOMB SQUAD?: Jaguars hit 3 more homers, roll past No. 1 team in Class 1A

The way that her teammates were hitting the ball, Ankeny Centennial pitcher Lauren Gustofson didn't have to be perfect in the Jaguars' softball season opener on Monday. But the senior was anyway. Gustofson tossed a five-inning perfect game with 11 strikeouts as Centennial rolled to a 15-0 victory at Waukee in the opener of a CIML Conference … [Read more...] about HOP ON THE BUS, GUS: Senior tosses perfect game in Jaguars’ sweep

Survive and advance. That's all that matters in postseason play. The Ankeny Centennial softball team got a tougher-than-expected battle from visiting Waterloo West in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday, but the fifth-ranked Jaguars held on for a 4-3 victory. "Postseason time brings out the best in everybody," said Centennial coach Brett … [Read more...] about Survive and advance: Jaguars hold off Waterloo West, will host Linn-Mar next

The sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team bounced back from one bad inning to earn a split of Wednesday's doubleheader at No. 13 Ames. The Little Cyclones used a four-run first inning to post a 4-2 victory in the opener, snapping Centennial's season-high five-game winning streak. The Jaguars then rebounded with an 8-1 win in the nightcap. "We … [Read more...] about After a bad first inning, Jaguars salvage split of doubleheader at Ames

After being rained out on Friday, the Ankeny Centennial softball team won its final two games in the Brent Prange Classic on Saturday at Centennial. The sixth-ranked Jaguars posted a 9-0 victory over Davis County, the No. 9 team in Class 3A. They then defeated Pleasantville, 9-3, for their fourth straight win. "Our girls are starting to swing the bat … [Read more...] about Jaguars rout Davis County, Pleasantville after being rained out on Friday

The Ankeny Centennial softball team needed just one more big hit to knock off top-ranked Waukee Northwest in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday at Centennial. Unfortunately, the No. 5 Jaguars didn't get it. Northwest held on for a 5-4 victory, then completed a sweep of the season series by winning the nightcap, 13-2, in five innings. "Our … [Read more...] about ‘We just didn’t quite get over the hump’: Jaguars are swept by No. 1 Waukee NW

The Ankeny Centennial softball team continues to dominate most of its opponents in the CIML Iowa Conference. The fifth-ranked Jaguars earned their fifth doubleheader sweep of the season on Thursday with a pair of run-rule victories over visiting Marshalltown. They rolled to a 14-2 win in four innings, then completed the sweep with an 11-0 triumph in five … [Read more...] about Lathrop earns first varsity win to finish off Jaguars’ sweep over Marshalltown

The Ankeny Centennial softball players were prepared for a long bus ride to Mason City on Wednesday. It turns out that the Jaguars never had to board the bus. The CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader was moved to Centennial due to a wet field in Mason City, and the sixth-ranked Jaguars went on to sweep the twinbill by identical 12-0 scores. "Our girls … [Read more...] about HOME SWEEP HOME: Jaguars post identical 12-0 wins over Mason City

The Ankeny Centennial softball pitchers allowed just five runs on Monday in a doubleheader at top-ranked Waukee Northwest. Unfortunately, the No. 5 Jaguars managed just two runs themselves. The Wolves posted a 2-1 victory in eight innings in the first game, then completed a sweep of the twinbill with a 3-1 triumph in the nightcap. "Our pitchers … [Read more...] about ‘We just didn’t score enough runs’: Jaguars fall twice to No. 1 Waukee NW

There isn't much of a gap between the state's top two softball teams in Class 5A. However, top-ranked Fort Dodge still has the edge over No. 2 Ankeny Centennial. In a rematch of last year's Class 5A championship game, the host Dodgers swept a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader on Tuesday. They walked off with a 3-2 win in the first game, then hit a … [Read more...] about No. 1 Fort Dodge sweeps No. 2 Jaguars in rematch of last year’s 5A title game

Bouncing back from a loss earlier in the day, the second-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat No. 6 Bettendorf, 5-4, on Friday at the Johnston Invitational. Lizzy Klunder capped the rally with a walk-off hit that drove in pinch-runner Addie Pollock from third with the winning run. "She … [Read more...] about Klunder’s walk-off hit caps rally, gives Jaguars 5-4 victory over No. 6 Bettendorf