Dave Bingham

Perhaps Dick Rasmussen was smiling from above at the end of Friday's doubleheader that was played on the softball field named after him. Sixth-ranked Ankeny got a pair of walk-off hits from Cassie Johnson to beat No. 3 Southeast Polk, 6-5 and 8-7, in a CIML Conference twinbill. Both game-winning hits came in the bottom of the eighth inning. Johnson was … [Read more...] about ‘It felt like a special place’: Johnson blasts two walk-off hits; Ankeny sweeps Rams

After resuming Tuesday's suspended doubleheader against visiting Johnston, the Ankeny softball team settled for a split of the twinbill on Wednesday. The ninth-ranked Hawkettes held on for a 7-5 victory in the opener before No. 8 Johnston salvaged a split with a 5-3 win in the nightcap. Ankeny pitcher Abby Rusher went 2-for-3 and got the decision in both … [Read more...] about Hawkettes split twinbill with Johnston, move up to No. 6 in latest 5A rankings

It didn't take long for Cassie Johnson to make an impact upon her return to the Ankeny softball team. Johnson homered during a seven-run first inning and the ninth-ranked Hawkettes opened their season on Monday with an 8-2 victory over visiting Dowling Catholic in the first game of a CIML Conference doubleheader. They then completed the sweep with an 8-1 … [Read more...] about Hawkettes open season with impressive sweep over Dowling Catholic

The Ankeny softball team had a lot to play for on Wednesday against defending state champion Fort Dodge. But so did the third-ranked Dodgers. Fort Dodge won both games of a doubleheader at No. 9 Ankeny to keep its CIML Iowa Conference title hopes alive. The Dodgers posted an 8-2 victory in the opener, then completed the sweep with an 11-0 win in five … [Read more...] about Ankeny looks to regroup after Dodgers sweep twinbill to keep title hopes alive

The ninth-ranked Ankeny softball team took care of business on Monday against visiting Marshalltown, sweeping a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader in just seven combined innings. The Hawkettes rolled to a 12-0 win in three innings in the opener. They then completed a sweep over the struggling Bobcats with a 15-3 triumph in four innings. "I think anytime … [Read more...] about Hawkettes sweep Marshalltown again, will face Fort Dodge, Centennial next

With two more wins on Saturday in the Brent Prange Classic, the Ankeny softball team has now surpassed its victory total from each of the previous three seasons. The ninth-ranked Hawkettes, who went 4-0 in the tournament, are now 23-8 overall. They won 21 games last year, 19 in 2020 and 20 in 2019 under coach Dave Bingham. "It's always nice to win … [Read more...] about Hawkettes finish 4-0 at Prange Classic, surpass win total from last 3 seasons

One of the oldest cliches in sports is that it's difficult to beat the same team three times. It's even more difficult to beat the same opponent five times. The Ankeny softball team discovered that reality on Wednesday, when the 14th-ranked Hawkettes split a doubleheader at No. 12 Ames. Ankeny posted a 7-2 victory in the opener for its fourth … [Read more...] about Hawkettes split at Ames, move ahead of Centennial and into 3rd place

It might be too late for the Ankeny softball team to contend for the CIML Iowa Conference title. But the 14th-ranked Hawkettes could still finish ahead of their crosstown rival. Ankeny won both games of a doubleheader on Monday at Mason City, 4-0 and 13-0 in four innings, to move into a third-place tie in the league with No. 5 Ankeny Centennial--which … [Read more...] about Hawkettes sweep Mason City, move into 3rd-place tie with Centennial in league

After suffering its worst loss of the season, the Ankeny softball team rebounded on Thursday with a victory over the No. 1 squad in Class 5A. The 14th-ranked Hawkettes snapped Waukee Northwest's 11-game winning streak with a 6-4 triumph in the second game of a doubleheader at Ankeny. The Wolves had allowed just nine runs in their previous 11 contests … [Read more...] about ‘It was good to see us bounce back’: Hawkettes earn split against No. 1 NW

The Ankeny softball team's winning streak finally came to an end on Monday night. But not until after the 15th-ranked Hawkettes proved that they can play with one of the state's best squads. Ankeny posted a 2-1 victory at No. 4 Fort Dodge in nine innings before the Dodgers rebounded to win the nightcap of a doubleheader, 9-4. That loss ended the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes top Fort Dodge in 9 innings before Dodgers snap AHS winning streak

The 15th-ranked Ankeny softball team is one of the hottest squads in the state. The Hawkettes extended their winning streak to eight games with two more victories on Saturday in the John Stevens Classic at Creston. They posted a 4-3 win over Mount Ayr, then followed with a 5-3 triumph over Knoxville--the No. 10 team in Class 4A. Ankeny, which also won … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got something special’: Hawkettes complete 8-0 week with 2 more wins

The Ames softball team entered Monday's doubleheader at Ankeny with an 8-1 record and a No. 13 ranking in Class 5A. It has been an impressive start for the Little Cyclones, but they have yet to play any of the three top-five teams in the CIML Iowa Conference--No. 1 Waukee Northwest, No. 2 Fort Dodge and No. 5 Ankeny Centennial. The Ames players … [Read more...] about ‘We came out and took care of business’: Hawkettes sweep No. 13 Ames