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Joe Balvanz

What the Fulk? Southpaw throws perfect 6-inning game in Hawks’ 10-0 victory

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A week ago, Ankeny pitcher Brody Brecht tossed a no-hitter and tied a school record with 17 strikeouts in a victory over Ames. On Monday, fellow senior Weston Fulk did the unthinkable--he may have topped Brecht's performance. Fulk threw a perfect game and struck out 12 of the 18 batters that he faced as second-ranked Ankeny rolled to a 10-0 win over … [Read more...] about What the Fulk? Southpaw throws perfect 6-inning game in Hawks’ 10-0 victory

SIGNATURE GAME: Brecht fans 17, tosses no-hitter in final start before MLB draft

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Jase Bauer almost felt sorry for his opponents after the Ankeny baseball team defeated visiting Ames, 15-5, in five innings in the first game of a doubleheader on Tuesday. "I was telling someone after we 10-runned these guys and Will (Johnson) pitched a gem and we've got Brody (Brecht) coming out for the second game, that's got to be demoralizing for … [Read more...] about SIGNATURE GAME: Brecht fans 17, tosses no-hitter in final start before MLB draft

‘We’re just competing every game’: Hawks bash their way to another sweep

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The Ankeny baseball team took care of business quickly against an overmatched opponent on Wednesday. The third-ranked Hawks traveled to Marshalltown for a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader and routed the Bobcats twice, posting a 12-0 victory in five innings and a 17-2 win in four innings. "We're just competing every game," said Ankeny catcher Tamden … [Read more...] about ‘We’re just competing every game’: Hawks bash their way to another sweep

‘I just smiled from ear to ear’: Brecht named Gatorade Iowa Player of the Year

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Ankeny baseball star Brody Brecht woke up on Tuesday to a text message from his head coach, Joe Balvanz. "It said 'Congrats' and I opened it, and it was a link to the Gatorade POY," Brecht said. "I just smiled from ear to ear and was super honored to have been chosen. I thanked God and then got ready for practice." Brecht, a senior pitcher and … [Read more...] about ‘I just smiled from ear to ear’: Brecht named Gatorade Iowa Player of the Year

Hawks sweep Centennial again, clinch outright CIML Iowa Conference crown

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Even though Brody Brecht didn't take the mound on Monday night, the Ankeny baseball team still had more than enough talented arms to wrap up the CIML Iowa Conference championship. Weston Fulk tossed a one-hitter and had 11 strikeouts as the third-ranked Hawks rolled to a 10-0 victory over visiting Ankeny Centennial in six innings in the first game of a … [Read more...] about Hawks sweep Centennial again, clinch outright CIML Iowa Conference crown

Hawks roll past Bettendorf, reach double digits in runs for 12th time this season

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When the Ankeny baseball team scores 10 or more runs, the Hawks are virtually unbeatable. Fourth-ranked Ankeny pounded out 11 hits and rolled to a 12-4 victory over Bettendorf in the Brent Prange Classic on Saturday at Valley. The game was moved from Ankeny due to rain, which later wiped out another game against Sioux City Heelan. The Hawks (19-6) … [Read more...] about Hawks roll past Bettendorf, reach double digits in runs for 12th time this season

‘It’s fun to watch these guys’: Fulk, Brecht lead No. 4 Hawks to another sweep

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Brody Brecht has been grabbing most of the headlines this season for the Ankeny baseball team. The rest of the Hawks are pretty good, too. Brecht had another brilliant performance on the mound, Weston Fulk blasted three home runs and fourth-ranked Ankeny rolled to another doubleheader sweep on Wednesday at Fort Dodge. The Hawks posted a 19-8 victory in … [Read more...] about ‘It’s fun to watch these guys’: Fulk, Brecht lead No. 4 Hawks to another sweep

Ankeny baseball team sweeps Mason City, closes in on conference title

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The Ankeny baseball team is considered one of the top contenders to win the Class 4A state championship. Following Monday's doubleheader against visiting Mason City, the fourth-ranked Hawks are a virtual lock to capture the CIML Iowa Conference crown. Ankeny rolled to a pair of run-rule victories over the Mohawks, posting a 14-1 win in five innings and … [Read more...] about Ankeny baseball team sweeps Mason City, closes in on conference title

‘I try to zone them out’: Brecht ignores scouts, hurls Hawks to 3-1 win at S.E. Polk

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Ankeny's Brody Brecht continues to thrive under pressure. Overcoming triple-digit temperatures and the distraction of more than a dozen scouts from MLB, Brecht pitched another gem on Thursday at Southeast Polk, allowing just one unearned run on three hits over 6 1/3 innings and recording 11 strikeouts as the fifth-ranked Hawks salvaged a split of a … [Read more...] about ‘I try to zone them out’: Brecht ignores scouts, hurls Hawks to 3-1 win at S.E. Polk

With Brecht out of the lineup, Bauer drives in 10 runs in Hawks’ sweep

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For many reasons, Brody Brecht is probably the most valuable player on the Ankeny baseball team. On Monday, the fifth-ranked Hawks did just fine without him. Brecht sat out after having a wisdom tooth removed as Ankeny rolled to a doubleheader sweep over visiting Marshalltown. The Hawks posted an 11-0 victory in five innings in the opener, then romped … [Read more...] about With Brecht out of the lineup, Bauer drives in 10 runs in Hawks’ sweep

‘Flame-thrower’ Brecht tosses gem to complete Hawks’ sweep over rival

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Brody Brecht and the Ankeny baseball team are on a roll. That's a scary thought for the rest of Class 4A. Brecht tossed a two-hitter and had 13 strikeouts as the eighth-ranked Hawks posted a 7-0 victory to complete a sweep of Wednesday's CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader at Ankeny Centennial. Ankeny also won the opener, 4-2. "We had a tough opening … [Read more...] about ‘Flame-thrower’ Brecht tosses gem to complete Hawks’ sweep over rival

‘I think now we’ve got our bats going’: Hawks pound out 34 hits in sweep

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The Ankeny baseball team is starting to look like the top-ranked squad in Class 4A. The Hawks, who dropped from No. 1 to No. 8 in the rankings after splitting their first 10 games of the season, scored 29 runs on 34 hits while sweeping a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader against visiting Fort Dodge on Monday. They rolled to 14-4 and 15-2 victories--both … [Read more...] about ‘I think now we’ve got our bats going’: Hawks pound out 34 hits in sweep

THE INCREDIBLE FULK: Iowa recruit racks up 11 total bases in Hawks’ blowout

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Ankeny senior Weston Fulk is headed to the Iowa baseball team to become a pitcher for the Hawkeyes. But if Fulk continues to hit like he did on Saturday, he might have to take his bat to Iowa City with him. Fulk went 5-for-5 with a home run, three doubles and four RBIs as the top-ranked Hawks defeated North Polk, 17-3, in five innings at the Tim Heggen … [Read more...] about THE INCREDIBLE FULK: Iowa recruit racks up 11 total bases in Hawks’ blowout

Corell’s walk-off blast allows Dowling to sweep twinbill against Hawks

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Charlie Corell hit a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to give seventh-ranked Dowling Catholic a 6-5 victory over No. 1 Ankeny and a sweep of a non-conference baseball doubleheader on Wednesday at Dowling. The Maroons also won the opener, 4-3. Corell's blast came off Will Johnson and improved Dowling's record to 7-1. The … [Read more...] about Corell’s walk-off blast allows Dowling to sweep twinbill against Hawks

‘We certainly have some things to pick on’: Hawks drop to 1-3 after PV’s sweep

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It's time for the Ankeny baseball team to regroup. The top-ranked Hawks dropped to 1-3 on the season with a doubleheader loss to No. 6 Pleasant Valley on a chilly Friday night at Ankeny. The Spartans posted a 4-2 victory in the opener, then completed the sweep with a 6-2 win. "The temperature was the same for both teams, but they played like it was 75 … [Read more...] about ‘We certainly have some things to pick on’: Hawks drop to 1-3 after PV’s sweep

It’s a draw: No. 1 Ankeny, No. 2 Urbandale split season-opening doubleheader

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Ankeny baseball coach Joe Balvanz challenged his team after the Hawks lost to visiting Urbandale, 4-1, in the first game of a season-opening doubleheader on Monday. The Hawks then responded with a 12-3 victory in the nightcap to earn a split. "I wanted our guys to have a better approach at the plate, and we were able to put some pressure on them with … [Read more...] about It’s a draw: No. 1 Ankeny, No. 2 Urbandale split season-opening doubleheader

Loaded Ankeny baseball team looking to take one more step in 2021

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When the Ankeny baseball team opens the season on Monday night by hosting a doubleheader against Urbandale, several major-league scouts are expected to be in attendance. They'll be watching the top two teams in Class 4A according to the Iowa Baseball Coaches Association's preseason rankings: Ankeny is No. 1 and Urbandale is No. 2. "This team is … [Read more...] about Loaded Ankeny baseball team looking to take one more step in 2021

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Dylan Schlee, Ankeny baseball

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Sophomore pitcher Dylan Schlee helped the Ankeny baseball team to a 21-9 record and a second-place finish in the Class 4A state tournament. Schlee compiled a 3-1 record with a 2.90 ERA in a team-high 10 appearances for the Hawks. He walked just three batters while recording 21 strikeouts in 29 innings of work. Schlee recorded the final two outs to earn … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Dylan Schlee, Ankeny baseball

‘We just didn’t execute’: Hawks let lead slip away in 4A championship game

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Weston Fulk couldn't help but think about the state title that slipped away. But he was also focusing on winning a championship in 2021. "We know where we could have been," Fulk said after his Ankeny baseball team lost to Johnston, 11-8, in the Class 4A final on Saturday at Principal Park. "We deserved to be in this game--everybody knows it. But I'm … [Read more...] about ‘We just didn’t execute’: Hawks let lead slip away in 4A championship game