Jordyn Kennedy and the Ankeny Centennial softball team enjoyed a prolific day on Thursday. Kennedy blasted four home runs and set the school's single-season record as the third-ranked Jaguars won a pair of games at the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational before returning home to post an 8-6 victory over No. 4 Valley in a make-up CIML Conference game. "We … [Read more...] about Kennedy blasts 4 homers in Jaguars’ 3 wins, sets single-season school record
Featured
‘It already felt like home’: Gerstel to join Halverson on Ellsworth pitching staff
Until recently, Ankeny senior Travis Gerstel wasn't planning to continue his baseball career in college. Now, the righthanded pitcher has committed to play for Ellsworth Community College. "At the start of the season I wasn’t planning to go onto the next level," said Gerstel. "It wasn’t until recently I had a conversation with my dad that changed my … [Read more...] about ‘It already felt like home’: Gerstel to join Halverson on Ellsworth pitching staff
Struggling Hawkettes fall to 11-25 with shutout losses to ADM, North Polk
The Ankeny softball team dropped a pair of games to Class 4A ranked opponents at the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational on Thursday. The Hawkettes suffered a 3-0 loss to No. 4 ADM, then fell to No. 7 North Polk, 12-0, in four innings. They are now 11-25 on the season. ADM (24-6) scored a run in each of the first three innings. Lauren Hagedorn doubled, … [Read more...] about Struggling Hawkettes fall to 11-25 with shutout losses to ADM, North Polk
Hawks edge DC-G on Senior Night, extend their winning streak to 7 games
The surging Ankeny baseball team extended its winning streak to seven games with a 6-5 victory over visiting Dallas Center-Grimes in a non-conference game on Thursday. The Hawks used a four-run third inning to erase a 3-2 deficit, then held on for the win on their Senior Night. They raised their record to 14-19, while Dallas Center-Grimes fell to … [Read more...] about Hawks edge DC-G on Senior Night, extend their winning streak to 7 games
Valley baseball team defeats Jaguars, moves into 3-way tie atop conference
The Valley baseball team moved into a tie for first place in the CIML Conference with an 8-1 victory at ninth-ranked Ankeny Centennial on Thursday. The Tigers' win, coupled with a loss by third-ranked Waukee Northwest to No. 5 Johnston, created a three-way tie atop the conference. They are now 14-8 in the league and 20-12 overall. Waukee Northwest also … [Read more...] about Valley baseball team defeats Jaguars, moves into 3-way tie atop conference
Ex-AHS softball star Rusher transfers to Bradley after freshman year at Creighton
Former Ankeny softball star Abby Rusher has transferred to Bradley University following her freshman season at Creighton. "So excited for this new chapter!" Rusher tweeted Tuesday on X in announcing her commitment to the Braves. Rusher, a pitcher, helped the Bluejays to a 30-25 record, including a 15-9 mark in the Big East Conference. She appeared in … [Read more...] about Ex-AHS softball star Rusher transfers to Bradley after freshman year at Creighton
‘Zach put us on his back’: Halverson goes distance, leads Hawks past Waukee NW
The Ankeny baseball team fell out of contention for the CIML Conference title early in the season. But that doesn't mean that the Hawks can't have an impact on the race. Zach Halverson tossed a six-hitter and had nine strikeouts to lead Ankeny to a 5-3 victory on Wednesday at third-ranked Waukee Northwest, which was hoping to move closer to the league … [Read more...] about ‘Zach put us on his back’: Halverson goes distance, leads Hawks past Waukee NW
No. 1 Wolves shut out Ankeny, capture outright CIML Conference championship
Despite dropping a 5-0 decision on Wednesday at top-ranked Waukee Northwest, the Ankeny softball team made the Wolves work for their 25th consecutive victory. Northwest led by only 2-0 through four innings. The Wolves tacked on a run in the fifth inning, then added two more in the sixth to wrap up the outright CIML Conference championship. "It was some … [Read more...] about No. 1 Wolves shut out Ankeny, capture outright CIML Conference championship
‘It was a tough one to lose’: Jaguars fall at Dowling on throwing error in 9th inning
The Ankeny Centennial baseball team entered Wednesday's contest at Dowling Catholic with an 8-3 record and a seven-game winning streak in one-run decisions. The ninth-ranked Jaguars have demonstrated an ability to win close games, but this was one that got away from them. Dowling scored the winning run on an error in the bottom of the ninth inning to … [Read more...] about ‘It was a tough one to lose’: Jaguars fall at Dowling on throwing error in 9th inning
‘We needed those bats’: Jaguars pound out 11 hits in 9-5 victory at Dowling
On a night when the Ankeny Centennial softball team committed three errors, the Jaguars' bats more than made up for the defensive mistakes. Third-ranked Centennial pounded out 11 hits, four of them for extra bases, and posted a 9-5 victory at Dowling Catholic on Wednesday to complete a sweep of the season series. "It was another quality opponent in the … [Read more...] about ‘We needed those bats’: Jaguars pound out 11 hits in 9-5 victory at Dowling
SENIOR SALUTE: No. 3 Jaguars celebrate trio of players with win over Fort Dodge
The three seniors on the Ankeny Centennial softball team took a bow before leaving Tuesday's non-conference game against visiting Fort Dodge. With two outs in the top of the seventh inning, Centennial coach Brett Delaney replaced the trio of pitcher Aubrey Scieszinski, catcher Makenna Foster and left fielder Mary Brantley as the third-ranked Jaguars held … [Read more...] about SENIOR SALUTE: No. 3 Jaguars celebrate trio of players with win over Fort Dodge
‘We had some great at-bats’: Hawks top S.E. Polk for season-high 5th straight win
The signs of progress have been there for the Ankeny baseball team. Now, the wins are coming as well. The Hawks extended their winning streak to a season-high five games with a 6-3 victory over visiting Southeast Polk in a make-up game on Tuesday. They improved to 7-12 in the CIML Conference and 12-19 overall, while the Rams' records fell to 10-10 and … [Read more...] about ‘We had some great at-bats’: Hawks top S.E. Polk for season-high 5th straight win
Hawkettes pound out 12 hits, but tumble to No. 6 S.E. Polk girls in extra innings
The Ankeny softball team is hoping to get another shot at CIML Conference rival Southeast Polk. After the two squads split a doubleheader on June 5 at Pleasant Hill, the sixth-ranked Rams traveled to Ankeny on Tuesday for a make-up game and posted an 8-5 victory in eight innings. They scored two runs in the sixth inning to tie it at 5-5 and then used a … [Read more...] about Hawkettes pound out 12 hits, but tumble to No. 6 S.E. Polk girls in extra innings
Ankeny sweeps Maroons in potential preview of substate semifinal on July 14
The Ankeny baseball team traveled to Dowling Catholic on Monday for a CIML Conference doubleheader against the Maroons, who could potentially host the Hawks again in a Class 4A substate semifinal on July 14. That possibility led to both squads making some adjustments to their lineups, especially with the use of their pitchers. Neither coach wanted the … [Read more...] about Ankeny sweeps Maroons in potential preview of substate semifinal on July 14
Severs shines on Senior Night, tosses 3-hit gem to lead Jaguars to win over Norwalk
Darin Severs overcame a rocky start to remain unbeaten and the ninth-ranked Ankeny Centennial baseball team celebrated its Senior Night with an 8-2 victory over visiting Norwalk in a non-conference game on Monday. After giving up two runs in the first inning, one of which was unearned, Severs went on to toss a three-hitter. He walked three and had six … [Read more...] about Severs shines on Senior Night, tosses 3-hit gem to lead Jaguars to win over Norwalk
Lensmeyer hurls Hawkettes past Dowling in first game of doubleheader split
If the Ankeny softball team is going to pull off any surprises in postseason play, the Hawkettes will likely need to rely on the right arm of senior pitcher Aubrey Lensmeyer. The South Dakota recruit tossed a four-hitter and had four strikeouts to lead Ankeny to a 2-1 victory at Dowling Catholic in the first game of a doubleheader on Monday. The Maroons … [Read more...] about Lensmeyer hurls Hawkettes past Dowling in first game of doubleheader split
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kori Lincicum, Ankeny Centennial softball
Junior pitcher and outfielder Kori Lincicum has helped the third-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team to a 23-9 record, including a 15-5 mark in the CIML Conference. Lincicum is batting .418 with nine home runs, eight doubles and 31 RBIs. In the circle, she has compiled a 7-4 record with a 2.27 ERA and 68 strikeouts. Here is some inside info on … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kori Lincicum, Ankeny Centennial softball
Hawks rally for walk-off win over No. 2 C.R. Prairie, then top N. Scott at Prange Classic
Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz often reminds his players that baseball is a unique sport. "I tell the guys all the time, 'This is the only game where you can't run out the clock. You can't dribble it out. You can't kneel on it. If you have outs left, you have a puncher's chance,'" Balvanz said. That proved to be the case in the Brent Prange Classic on … [Read more...] about Hawks rally for walk-off win over No. 2 C.R. Prairie, then top N. Scott at Prange Classic
‘We played some very good competition’: Hawkettes place 8th at Linn-Mar Invite
For the second weekend in a row, the Ankeny softball squad earned an eighth-place finish in a 16-team tournament by winning its first-round game before dropping the next three contests. The Hawkettes posted a 5-0 victory over North Linn in the Linn-Mar Invitational on Friday at Marion. They then dropped a 6-2 decision in the quarterfinals to Cedar Rapids … [Read more...] about ‘We played some very good competition’: Hawkettes place 8th at Linn-Mar Invite
S.E. Polk boys use 5-run 3rd inning to win make-up contest against Jaguars
The Southeast Polk baseball team batted around in the third inning and went on to beat ninth-ranked Ankeny Centennial, 9-4, in a CIML Conference make-up game on Saturday at Pleasant Hill. Kaden Hills hit a three-run triple to ignite the Rams' five-run inning that erased Centennial's early 2-1 lead. Noah Trexel followed with an RBI single off Colton Arndt … [Read more...] about S.E. Polk boys use 5-run 3rd inning to win make-up contest against Jaguars