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Joe Balvanz

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

Hawks settle for runner-up trophy after Johnston rallies for 11-8 victory

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The Ankeny baseball team was in a position to win the Class 4A state title on Saturday night at Principal Park. The Hawks just couldn't close the deal. Top-ranked Johnston overcame a 7-3 deficit with three runs in the fifth inning and five more in the sixth to rally for an 11-8 victory over No. 2 Ankeny. The Dragons (24-3) won their fifth state … [Read more...] about Hawks settle for runner-up trophy after Johnston rallies for 11-8 victory

Hawks outlast Dubuque Hempstead, will play Johnston for Class 4A crown

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Just a few months after the Ankeny boys' basketball team won the Class 4A state title, the school's baseball squad will have a chance to win a championship of its own. Second-ranked Ankeny advanced to the Class 4A title game with a wild 9-8 victory over No. 4 Dubuque Hempstead in the semifinals on Friday at Principal Park. Ryan Madole scored from third … [Read more...] about Hawks outlast Dubuque Hempstead, will play Johnston for Class 4A crown

STICKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK TO THE PLAN: Brecht fans 16 as Hawks advance

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Ankeny baseball coach Joe Balvanz was tempted to pull his starting pitcher after the Hawks jumped out to a 4-0 lead against Pleasant Valley in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state tournament on Wednesday night. Brody Brecht was even campaigning to come out of the game, because such a move would have allowed him to potentially return to the mound in … [Read more...] about STICKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK TO THE PLAN: Brecht fans 16 as Hawks advance

Hawks soar back to Principal Park, will face Pleasant Valley in 4A quarterfinals

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Mo Watson isn't taking this abbreviated baseball season for granted. The senior catcher hit an RBI single to ignite second-ranked Ankeny to a 5-0 victory over visiting Council Bluffs Lincoln in a Class 4A substate final on Wednesday. The Hawks (19-8) advanced to next week's state tournament for the second straight year. "It feels awesome," said Watson. … [Read more...] about Hawks soar back to Principal Park, will face Pleasant Valley in 4A quarterfinals

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Lucas Juhl, Ankeny baseball

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Senior third baseman Lucas Juhl is a member of the second-ranked Ankeny baseball team. He has helped the Hawks to an 18-8 record. Juhl has played in 23 of the 26 games with 15 starts. He will play for Simpson College next year. "Lucas always has a team-focused approach," said Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz. "He knows that his role as a defensive specialist … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Lucas Juhl, Ankeny baseball