Ankeny Fanatic

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Ella Schulz

‘We still got second, and that’s good’: Jaguars settle for runner-up trophy

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Anna Christiansen vowed that the Ankeny Centennial softball team would be back to Harlan Rogers Park. "I'm extremely proud of this team, and these underclassmen are going to take this program places," Christiansen said after Friday night's Class 5A championship game at Fort Dodge. "This program is unlike any other in the state, and I'm extremely confident … [Read more...] about ‘We still got second, and that’s good’: Jaguars settle for runner-up trophy

‘We love being here’: Jaguars top City High, earn return trip to 5A semifinals

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A victory on Tuesday guaranteed that the seniors on the Ankeny Centennial softball team would get to play two more games together. The 10th-ranked Jaguars avoided playing in a meaningless consolation game on Wednesday by posting a 2-0 win over No. 6 Iowa City High in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state tournament at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort … [Read more...] about ‘We love being here’: Jaguars top City High, earn return trip to 5A semifinals

Jaguars oust No. 4 Indianola, will play Iowa City High in Class 5A quarterfinals

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Sam Klug played a supporting role on last year's Ankeny Centennial softball team that earned a third-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament. Now, she'll get a chance to play a starring role at Harlan Rogers Park. Klug tossed a six-hitter and had six strikeouts to help the 10th-ranked Jaguars to a 3-2 victory at No. 4 Indianola in a regional … [Read more...] about Jaguars oust No. 4 Indianola, will play Iowa City High in Class 5A quarterfinals

SWEET REVENGE: Jaguars knock off Indianola, earn 2nd straight trip to state

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Ankeny Centennial softball players Ella Schulz and Anna Christiansen waited three years to get their revenge. When they finally got it on Tuesday night, it was pretty sweet. The duo helped the 10th-ranked Jaguars to a 3-2 victory at No. 4 Indianola in a Class 5A regional final. The win allowed Centennial to earn its second straight trip to the state … [Read more...] about SWEET REVENGE: Jaguars knock off Indianola, earn 2nd straight trip to state

‘It was just a fun battle for 14 innings’: Jags hold off Ankeny twice to earn sweep

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Monday's softball doubleheader at Ankeny High School was all about pride. A lot more will be at stake the next time the Hawkettes face crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial. The 10th-ranked Jaguars traveled to the south side and came away with a sweep of the twinbill, 7-6 and 12-9. "I think it definitely gives us momentum coming into the next game in a … [Read more...] about ‘It was just a fun battle for 14 innings’: Jags hold off Ankeny twice to earn sweep

Winfrey hits, pitches Ankeny past Jaguars for split of CIML doubleheader

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Kendra Winfrey has established herself as one of the top pitchers on the Ankeny softball team. It turns out she's a pretty good hitter, too. Winfrey pitched a complete game and also slugged two home runs to lead the 13th-ranked Hawkettes to a 13-6 victory in the nightcap of Wednesday's doubleheader at No. 11 Ankeny Centennial. The win ended a five-game … [Read more...] about Winfrey hits, pitches Ankeny past Jaguars for split of CIML doubleheader

After breakout season, Centennial’s Schulz commits to play for Minnesota St.

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Ankeny Centennial catcher Ella Schulz enjoyed a breakout season in 2020. Her success on the softball field has resulted in an opportunity to play at the collegiate level. Schulz has verbally committed to Minnesota State, an NCAA Division II program. She announced her decision via Twitter over the weekend. "I'm so excited to announce my commitment to … [Read more...] about After breakout season, Centennial’s Schulz commits to play for Minnesota St.

Seniors lead the way as Jaguars pound Muscatine to end season in style

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The seniors on the sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team were determined to go out in style. The outcome of Thursday's Class 5A consolation final against No. 8 Muscatine was never in doubt. Centennial scored in every inning and rolled to a 10-0 victory over the Muskies in five innings at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge. The Jaguars (23-9) … [Read more...] about Seniors lead the way as Jaguars pound Muscatine to end season in style

‘It was just a matter of when’: Centennial erupts for dramatic win over Waukee

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Ankeny Centennial runner Mackenzie James watched from third base as her teammate, Franie Burnett, swung and missed at a third strike during Monday's Class 5A quarterfinal against Waukee. Then James noticed the ball skip past Waukee catcher Natalie Wellet. The freshman raced home with the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and the sixth-ranked Jaguars … [Read more...] about ‘It was just a matter of when’: Centennial erupts for dramatic win over Waukee

Jaguars stun No. 4 Waukee in their state tournament debut

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Ankeny Centennial's first trip to the state softball tournament has already been a memorable one. The sixth-ranked Jaguars advanced to the Class 5A semifinals with an improbable 5-2 victory over No. 4 Waukee on Monday at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge. Down to its final five outs, Centennial rallied for five runs in the last two innings to erase a … [Read more...] about Jaguars stun No. 4 Waukee in their state tournament debut

‘It’s the best feeling ever’: Jaguars earn trip to Fort Dodge, will play No. 4 Waukee

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Ella Schulz watched from behind home plate as her teammate, second baseman Anna Christiansen, fielded a ground ball and threw to first for the final out of Tuesday's Class 5A regional final. The two juniors then raced toward each other and embraced as the Ankeny Centennial softball team advanced to the state tournament for the first time ever with a 10-5 … [Read more...] about ‘It’s the best feeling ever’: Jaguars earn trip to Fort Dodge, will play No. 4 Waukee

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ella Schulz, Ankeny Centennial softball

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Junior catcher Ella Schulz went 2-for-3 with a double and one RBI to help the sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team to a 12-2 victory over visiting Cedar Falls in six innings in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday. The Jaguars (20-8) will host Urbandale (10-17) in the regional final on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Schulz is now batting .546 and leads … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ella Schulz, Ankeny Centennial softball

‘We expected a lot of runs’: Hawkettes, Jaguars split high-scoring twinbill

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The Ankeny softball team got a much-needed victory Wednesday against its crosstown rival. Then Ankeny Centennial bounced back with one of its own. The two squads split a high-scoring CIML doubleheader at Ankeny, combining for 35 runs. The 15th-ranked Hawkettes ended a four-game losing skid with an 11-8 victory in the opener before No. 11 Centennial … [Read more...] about ‘We expected a lot of runs’: Hawkettes, Jaguars split high-scoring twinbill

Jaguars complete sweep over defending champs on Burnett’s walk-off blast

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A simple approach at the plate led to a game-winning home run by Franie Burnett on Friday night. The senior shortstop homered in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the 11th-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team a 6-5 victory over No. 6 Valley and a sweep of the CIML doubleheader. The host Jaguars also won the first game, 6-0. "I was just looking … [Read more...] about Jaguars complete sweep over defending champs on Burnett’s walk-off blast

Jaguars top Norwalk twice, earn 3rd-place finish in Elite Eight tournament

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team defeated Norwalk for the second time in two days, 6-1, to earn a third-place finish in the Barney Dennis Elite Eight tournament on Saturday at Johnston. Taylor Runchey drove in four runs as the Jaguars improved their record to 12-10. Ella Schulz and Cassi Garland each went 2-for-3 in the win. "Norwalk pitched their … [Read more...] about Jaguars top Norwalk twice, earn 3rd-place finish in Elite Eight tournament

Centennial softball team blanked twice at No. 9 Johnston

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Two steps forward, two steps back. After sweeping a doubleheader against then-No. 4 Waukee on Wednesday, the Ankeny Centennial softball team struggled on Thursday at ninth-ranked Johnston, dropping both ends of a non-conference twinbill without scoring a run. The Dragons posted a 6-0 victory in the opener, then won the nightcap in five innings, 11-0, … [Read more...] about Centennial softball team blanked twice at No. 9 Johnston

Jaguars earn culture-building sweep over No. 4 Waukee

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Randy Schneider has been saying for weeks that his Ankeny Centennial softball team is capable of beating some of the CIML's top squads. The Jaguars not only did that on Wednesday, but they did it twice. Centennial swept both games of a Central Conference doubleheader against visiting Waukee, 5-4 and 7-5. The fourth-ranked Warriors had won the previous … [Read more...] about Jaguars earn culture-building sweep over No. 4 Waukee