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Dave Bingham

Hawkettes outlast No. 3 Waukee NW in 10 innings before Wolves earn split

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After making an early mistake, Ankeny pitcher Abby Rusher buckled down on Monday night. Rusher gave up a leadoff homer to Sophia Schlader to start the game, then shut down third-ranked Waukee Northwest the rest of the way as the eighth-ranked Hawkettes posted a 2-1 victory in 10 innings in the opener of a CIML Conference softball doubleheader at … [Read more...] about Hawkettes outlast No. 3 Waukee NW in 10 innings before Wolves earn split

‘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

Hawkettes sweep Waukee as Lensmeyer, Johnson each blast pair of home runs

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Ankeny's duo of Aubrey Lensmeyer and Cassie Johnson proved to be double trouble for the Waukee softball team on Wednesday. Lensmeyer hit two home runs in the first game to lead Ankeny to a 7-1 victory, then Johnson blasted a pair of roundtrippers as the fifth-ranked Hawkettes completed a sweep of a CIML Conference road doubleheader with a 12-3 win in the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes sweep Waukee as Lensmeyer, Johnson each blast pair of home runs

‘We’ve just got to hit better’: Hawkettes open season with 2-1 loss at Norwalk

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The Ankeny softball team opened the season on Monday with a walk-off loss. The fifth-ranked Hawkettes dropped a 2-1 decision at Norwalk when Nyah Hulbert drove in the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Warriors are ranked No. 2 in Class 4A. "At the end of the day we've just got to hit better," said Ankeny coach Dave … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve just got to hit better’: Hawkettes open season with 2-1 loss at Norwalk

‘Our culture is at an all-time high’: Ankeny girls to rely heavily on Division I recruits

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Most high school softball teams don't have a Division I recruit on their roster. Ankeny is blessed to have three. The Hawkettes will again be led by seniors Cassie Johnson and Abby Rusher and junior Aubrey Lensmeyer. Johnson will play for Texas Tech next year, Rusher is headed to Creighton, and Lensmeyer has committed to South Dakota. Last year, the … [Read more...] about ‘Our culture is at an all-time high’: Ankeny girls to rely heavily on Division I recruits

‘We had a great season’: Ankeny girls tie for 7th in 5A, finish year with 31-8 record

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Cassie Johnson and her Ankeny softball teammates walked away from the Class 5A state tournament with their heads held high. "Of course we came into state wanting to win, but I couldn't be more proud of this team," said Johnson. "They are my best friends, and I wouldn't have wanted to go through the ups and downs with anyone else!" The second-ranked … [Read more...] about ‘We had a great season’: Ankeny girls tie for 7th in 5A, finish year with 31-8 record

Hawkettes fall to Muscatine, will play defending champs in consolation game

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There won't be an all-Ankeny clash, or even an all-CIML Conference battle, in the Class 5A state championship softball game. Second-ranked Ankeny and No. 3 Waukee Northwest, the defending champion, were both upset by teams from the Mississippi Athletic Conference in the Class 5A quarterfinals on Monday at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge. The Hawkettes … [Read more...] about Hawkettes fall to Muscatine, will play defending champs in consolation game

‘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

Johnson hits slam in 10-0 win over Cedar Falls; Hawkettes close in on state berth

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Ankeny softball coach Dave Bingham doesn't want his summer vacation to begin anytime soon. "I'm enjoying coaching these kids, and I hope I get four more (games)," Bingham said. The second-ranked Hawkettes opened postseason play on Saturday with a 10-0 victory over visiting Cedar Falls in five innings in a Class 5A regional semifinal. The Tigers … [Read more...] about Johnson hits slam in 10-0 win over Cedar Falls; Hawkettes close in on state berth

‘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

‘The 2023 class is a special group’: Hawkettes romp to win on Senior Night

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Cassie Johnson and Abby Rusher got a rare night off Tuesday for the Ankeny softball team. The two junior standouts were relegated to bench duty as Ankeny coach Dave Bingham started an all-senior lineup on Senior Night as the third-ranked Hawkettes rolled to a 10-1 victory over visiting Pella Christian in a non-conference game. "We were able to start … [Read more...] about ‘The 2023 class is a special group’: Hawkettes romp to win on Senior Night

‘We’re in it for the championship’: Hawkettes sweep past Waukee NW

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On the same night that its crosstown rival clinched the outright CIML Conference title, the Ankeny softball team showed that it's one of the top contenders to capture the Class 5A state championship. The third-ranked Hawkettes rallied for a 5-4 victory in 10 innings in the first game of a doubleheader on Monday at No. 2 Waukee Northwest, then completed a … [Read more...] about ‘We’re in it for the championship’: Hawkettes sweep past Waukee NW

‘We just didn’t make enough plays’: Ankeny lets lead slip away at Fort Dodge

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One bad inning proved to be costly for the Ankeny softball team. The second-ranked Hawkettes dropped a 7-3 decision in a non-conference game on Wednesday at Fort Dodge, the No. 3 team in Class 4A. The Dodgers scored all seven of their runs in the sixth inning to erase a 2-0 deficit. Ankeny committed five errors in the loss, leading to four unearned … [Read more...] about ‘We just didn’t make enough plays’: Ankeny lets lead slip away at Fort Dodge

Hawkettes advance to title game of Fort Dodge Invite before getting rained out

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The only thing that could slow down the Ankeny softball team on Saturday was an untimely visit from Mother Nature. The second-ranked Hawkettes advanced to the championship game of the Fort Dodge Invitational before the tournament was called off due to rain. "We played our best softball of the year," said Ankeny coach Dave Bingham. "The culture is so … [Read more...] about Hawkettes advance to title game of Fort Dodge Invite before getting rained out

‘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

‘Everybody else stepped up’: Hawkettes sweep Valley without their best hitter

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The fourth-ranked Ankeny softball team proved on Monday that it can win without its best hitter. Junior catcher Cassie Johnson started the first game of a doubleheader at No. 2 Valley, but left after just one at-bat and did not return. She leads the squad with a .538 batting average, eight home runs and 27 RBIs. Still, the Hawkettes went on to sweep … [Read more...] about ‘Everybody else stepped up’: Hawkettes sweep Valley without their best hitter

Rusher, Hawkettes finish perfect 4-0 in John Stevens Classic at Creston

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The Ankeny softball team outscored its opponents by a 35-5 margin while winning four games in the John Stevens Classic on Friday and Saturday at Creston. The fourth-ranked Hawkettes posted a 10-0 victory over Clarinda in six innings on Saturday before closing out the tournament with a 5-3 win over Winterset, the No. 8 team in Class 4A. "We were really … [Read more...] about Rusher, Hawkettes finish perfect 4-0 in John Stevens Classic at Creston

‘We were a lot more ready’: Belzer, Jaguars avenge only loss, sweep Ankeny

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Shortstop Mariah Belzer and the Ankeny Centennial softball team were fired up to avenge their only loss of the season. Belzer went 4-for-4 and hit a two-run homer as the seventh-ranked Jaguars rolled to a 7-1 victory at No. 6 Ankeny in the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday, completing a sweep of the Hawkettes. Ankeny had posted a 6-0 win over … [Read more...] about ‘We were a lot more ready’: Belzer, Jaguars avenge only loss, sweep Ankeny