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Joe Balvanz

Hawks rally past Ottumwa in opener, then Bulldogs return favor in nightcap

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Wednesday's doubleheader between the Ankeny and Ottumwa baseball teams featured a pair of five-run rallies in the seventh inning--one by each squad. After the second-ranked Hawks battled back for a 6-3 victory in the opener, the host Bulldogs returned the favor in the nightcap by rallying for an 8-7 win that handed Ankeny (3-1) its first loss of the … [Read more...] about Hawks rally past Ottumwa in opener, then Bulldogs return favor in nightcap

Fulk, Andrews toss back-to-back gems in Ankeny’s sweep over Bobcats

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Mo Watson and his teammates on the Ankeny baseball squad are going to relish every minute on the field this summer. The second-ranked Hawks showed off their potential Monday by sweeping a pair of five-inning games in their season opener at Marshalltown. They roughed up the Bobcats by scores of 19-0 and 11-0. "Ever since we got the word that we could … [Read more...] about Fulk, Andrews toss back-to-back gems in Ankeny’s sweep over Bobcats

Talented Ankeny baseball team expects to win ‘night in and night out’

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The Ankeny baseball players are just happy to be back on the field. The Hawks will open their season on Monday with a doubleheader at Marshalltown. It's the start of an abbreviated campaign that consists of just 27 games due to the COVID-19 outbreak that forced the cancellation of all spring high school activities. "They understand that this is a … [Read more...] about Talented Ankeny baseball team expects to win ‘night in and night out’

Ankeny’s first state tourney appearance since 2013 ends with 6-0 loss to Dragons

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Johnston baseball coach Michael Barta wasn't excited about his team's matchup against CIML Central Conference rival Ankeny in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state tournament at Principal Park. Barta knew the Hawks were a dangerous No. 8 seed. "(Ankeny's Joe) Balvanz is a great coach," Barta said. "They have tremendous talent--(Brody) Brecht shut us … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s first state tourney appearance since 2013 ends with 6-0 loss to Dragons

Hawks rough up Riders, get no-hitter from Brecht and advance to state

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Brody Brecht's teammates gave him a five-run cushion before he even took the mound on Wednesday night. Then they just kept adding to the lead. After scoring five runs in the top of the first inning, the Ankeny baseball team added four runs in the second and seven more in the third to support Brecht's four-inning no-hitter as the Hawks rolled to a 16-0 … [Read more...] about Hawks rough up Riders, get no-hitter from Brecht and advance to state

‘We have faith in each other’: Brecht, Spear power Hawks past Mason City

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The rankings and the seedings--not to mention the records of both teams--suggested that Mason City was a better baseball squad than Ankeny. Monday's Class 4A substate semifinal at Roosevelt Field suggested otherwise. The visiting Hawks broke open a tie game with a four-run fifth inning and went on to defeat 10th-ranked Mason City, 9-2, in a Substate 2 … [Read more...] about ‘We have faith in each other’: Brecht, Spear power Hawks past Mason City

Hawks survive and advance, will play at No. 10 Mason City on Monday

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Survive and advance. That's what the postseason is all about for Chris Spear and the Ankeny baseball team. Spear got the final three outs after replacing Brody Brecht on the mound and the Hawks held on to defeat visiting Fort Dodge, 6-5, in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal on Friday. "It feels amazing," said Spear, who picked up his first save of … [Read more...] about Hawks survive and advance, will play at No. 10 Mason City on Monday

Jaguars deliver knockout blow, sweep season series against Ankeny

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Ankeny Centennial's Cory Prange was looking for a pitch that he could drive. He never got one. Prange walked on four straight pitches from Ankeny reliever Cooper Cox to force in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the seventh-ranked Jaguars a 4-3 victory and a sweep of Thursday's CIML Central Conference baseball … [Read more...] about Jaguars deliver knockout blow, sweep season series against Ankeny

Hawks earn another split against No. 1 Johnston on Lyons’ walk-off double

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Evan Lyons stepped to the plate on Monday night with a chance to be the hero. The Ankeny senior came through with his second walk-off hit of the season. Lyons ripped a one-out double to the gap in left-center field to drive in three runs and give the Hawks an 8-7 victory over top-ranked Johnston in the nightcap of a CIML Central Conference baseball … [Read more...] about Hawks earn another split against No. 1 Johnston on Lyons’ walk-off double

Hawks start off July with sweep, capped off by Andrews’ 2-hit gem

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Weston Fulk and his Ankeny teammates are hoping to play their best baseball of the season in July. The Hawks got the month off to a good start on Monday by sweeping a doubleheader against visiting Ames. After posting a 5-4 victory in the opener, Ankeny completed the sweep with an 8-1 triumph. "We're trying to get on a roll," said Fulk, who was the … [Read more...] about Hawks start off July with sweep, capped off by Andrews’ 2-hit gem

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Kade Somers, Ankeny baseball

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Kade Somers is a member of the Ankeny baseball team. The sophomore outfielder has helped the Hawks to a 14-11 record. He has played in 19 games, including 13 starts, and is batting .231 with one triple and four RBIs. "Kade brings a great attitude with him to the ballpark every single day," said Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz. "Regardless of what his role … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Kade Somers, Ankeny baseball

Freshman pitcher leads Hawks to 4-1 victory in nightcap at No. 8 Urbandale

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Earlier this month, Weston Fulk provided the heroics as the Ankeny baseball team salvaged a split of a doubleheader against Urbandale, hitting a walk-off, three-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning. On Wednesday, Samuel Andrews came to the rescue for the Hawks. The freshman pitcher earned his first varsity victory as Ankeny posted a 4-1 win at … [Read more...] about Freshman pitcher leads Hawks to 4-1 victory in nightcap at No. 8 Urbandale

Hawks respond to coach’s challenge with 9-4 win at Dowling in 2nd game

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The Ankeny baseball team was challenged by head coach Joe Balvanz after the Hawks dropped the first game of Monday's doubleheader at fifth-ranked Dowling Catholic. Balvanz's message was heard loud and clear by his players. The Hawks responded with a 9-4 victory in the nightcap to salvage a split of the twinbill. They are now 5-6 in the CIML Central … [Read more...] about Hawks respond to coach’s challenge with 9-4 win at Dowling in 2nd game

Brecht shuts down top-ranked Dragons, then seals 1-0 win with leaping catch

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Brody Brecht gave the Ankeny baseball team a much-needed lift on Wednesday. The sophomore righthander outdueled Johnston standout Jackson Vines to lead the visiting Hawks to a 1-0 victory in the first game of a CIML Central Conference doubleheader, handing the top-ranked Dragons just their second loss of the season. "Going into the game we obviously … [Read more...] about Brecht shuts down top-ranked Dragons, then seals 1-0 win with leaping catch

The Trey and Tyler Show: Jaguars sweep Ankeny with back-to-back shutouts

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The crosstown rivalry never gets old for Ankeny Centennial junior Trey Morris. "It's always fun to beat (Ankeny)--in every sport," said Morris. Morris and fellow righthander Tyler Heinzerling threw back-to-back shutouts on Monday as the eighth-ranked Jaguars swept a CIML Central Conference baseball doubleheader at Ankeny, 4-0 and 5-0. The Hawks entered … [Read more...] about The Trey and Tyler Show: Jaguars sweep Ankeny with back-to-back shutouts

Hawks take 4-game winning streak into doubleheader against No. 8 Centennial

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Ankeny baseball coach Joe Balvanz has tried to downplay the significance of Monday's doubleheader against visiting Ankeny Centennial. But he knows his message is falling on deaf ears. "You can try to talk them down all you want, but the kids get really fired up for this," Balvanz said. "It really should be like playing Johnston or Waukee, but we all … [Read more...] about Hawks take 4-game winning streak into doubleheader against No. 8 Centennial