Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Joe Balvanz

Hawks notch rare win at Valley behind Brecht’s solid outing, Boyd’s 5 steals

by

When Cael Boyd, Brody Brecht and the Ankeny football team played at Valley in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs last fall, it ended with a heartbreaking loss for the Hawks. Boyd and Brecht returned to Valley on Friday with the Ankeny baseball squad. This time, the ending was much happier. The two sophomores both played huge roles as Ankeny … [Read more...] about Hawks notch rare win at Valley behind Brecht’s solid outing, Boyd’s 5 steals

Johnson gets a save, helps Hawks to sweep Ames baseball team

by

The Ankeny baseball team was already relying on several sophomores this season. Now you can add another one to the list. Sophomore pitcher Will Johnson made his varsity debut during the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader at Ames, then came back in during the nightcap and earned a save as the Hawks completed a sweep of the twinbill with a 7-6 … [Read more...] about Johnson gets a save, helps Hawks to sweep Ames baseball team

Hawks earn split against Urbandale on Fulk’s walk-off blast in 10th inning

by

For most of the night, the Urbandale baseball team pitched around Ankeny's Brody Brecht in order to face the Hawks' other hitters. That strategy backfired in a big way Monday in the second game of a doubleheader at Ankeny. Weston Fulk hit a walk-off, three-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Hawks a 13-10 victory and a split of the … [Read more...] about Hawks earn split against Urbandale on Fulk’s walk-off blast in 10th inning

Waukee records back-to-back walk-off victories against Hawks

by

The Ankeny baseball team had a chance to win both games of Thursday's doubleheader at Waukee. Instead, the sixth-ranked Warriors came away with a pair of walk-off victories. Waukee swept the twinbill by scores of 3-2 and 4-3 to improve to 9-2 on the season. No. 9 Ankeny's record dropped to 4-4. "We played really well except for the seventh … [Read more...] about Waukee records back-to-back walk-off victories against Hawks

Hawks ‘turn the page’ after splitting doubleheader against Roosevelt

by

Ankeny baseball coach Joe Balvanz doesn't want his players to get too excited after a win. He also doesn't want them to dwell too long on a loss. Wednesday's doubleheader against visiting Des Moines Roosevelt was a perfect example of both of those scenarios. The ninth-ranked Hawks posted an 8-4 victory in the first game of the twinbill. They then … [Read more...] about Hawks ‘turn the page’ after splitting doubleheader against Roosevelt

Dowling’s Baumler overpowers Hawks, tosses 1-hitter in Maroons’ 3-1 victory

by

The Ankeny baseball team didn't have an answer for Dowling Catholic pitcher Carter Baumler. Baumler tossed a one-hitter and had 12 strikeouts to lead the fifth-ranked Maroons to a 3-1 victory at Ankeny in the CIML Central Conference opener for both teams on Monday. The game was shortened to six innings due to rain, and the second game of the doubleheader … [Read more...] about Dowling’s Baumler overpowers Hawks, tosses 1-hitter in Maroons’ 3-1 victory

Hawks romp past Burlington, Davenport North to improve their record to 3-0

by

Ankeny baseball coach Joe Balvanz doesn't have much to complain about. The Hawks rolled to a pair of victories in the Tim Heggen Invitational on Saturday at Ankeny Centennial and have now outscored their first three opponents by a 32-1 margin. "It's been an interesting start to the season," said Balvanz. "We played a game (at Saydel on May 23), then we … [Read more...] about Hawks romp past Burlington, Davenport North to improve their record to 3-0

Boyd sparks Ankeny baseball team to season-opening victory

by

Cael Boyd appears to be a perfect fit for the leadoff hitter's role on the Ankeny baseball team. Boyd sparked the Hawks to a 13-0 victory at Saydel in five innings in their season opener on Thursday. The sophomore outfielder went 2-for-2 with a double, walked twice, stole three bases and scored four runs. "Cael did a really nice job of setting the … [Read more...] about Boyd sparks Ankeny baseball team to season-opening victory

Young, talented Hawks look to compete in rugged CIML Central Conference

by

If the Ankeny baseball team can be competitive in the CIML Central Conference, then the Hawks will likely be among the top squads in Class 4A. The Central Conference boasts three of the top six teams in the preseason rankings--No. 1 Johnston, No. 5 Dowling Catholic and No. 6 Urbandale. The J-Hawks are the defending state champions. "The league is … [Read more...] about Young, talented Hawks look to compete in rugged CIML Central Conference

Ankeny pitcher Fulk commits to play baseball for Hawkeyes

by

Ankeny High School's Class of 2021 appears to have multiple college prospects in a variety of sports. One of them has already made his future plans. Sophomore pitcher Weston Fulk has verbally committed to play baseball for Iowa. He chose the Hawkeyes after attending one of their winter evaluation camps. "They had open arms for me," said Fulk. "They … [Read more...] about Ankeny pitcher Fulk commits to play baseball for Hawkeyes

Hard-throwing Patzner shuts down Hawks in substate final

by

Wednesday's substate baseball final between unranked Ankeny and No. 2 Urbandale was a classic David vs. Goliath matchup. This time, Goliath prevailed. Luke Patzner tossed a two-hitter and had 10 strikeouts to lead the host J-Hawks to a 6-0 victory in a Class 4A Substate 7 final. The loss ended a seven-game winning streak for Ankeny, which finished the … [Read more...] about Hard-throwing Patzner shuts down Hawks in substate final

Seth Harpenau’s walk-off hit allows Hawks to survive and advance

by

Seth Harpenau wasn't trying to be a hero. The Ankeny senior was simply trying to drive in the tying run during Monday's Class 4A substate baseball semifinal against visiting Des Moines East. He ended up getting a walk-off hit. Harpenau stroked a two-run single into right field to give the Hawks a thrilling 5-4 victory that moved them one step closer … [Read more...] about Seth Harpenau’s walk-off hit allows Hawks to survive and advance

Hawks, Jaguars look to continue postseason run on Monday

by

Both Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial will face familiar foes in the Class 4A substate baseball semifinals on Monday night. The Hawks (20-16) will host Des Moines East (17-22) in Substate 7, while the Jaguars (21-18) will play at 10th-ranked Valley (26-15) in a Substate 2 matchup. Both games begin at 7 p.m. Ankeny, which is riding a six-game winning … [Read more...] about Hawks, Jaguars look to continue postseason run on Monday

Maifeld hurls Hawks past Newton in substate quarterfinal

by

When the Newton baseball team scored an unearned run in the first inning of Friday's Class 4A substate quarterfinal at Ankeny, it gave the Cardinals some early momentum against one of the state's best pitchers. "I was a little worried before the game--I don't know why," said Ankeny senior righthander Jayden Maifeld. "And then when that happened, I … [Read more...] about Maifeld hurls Hawks past Newton in substate quarterfinal

Centennial game moved up to 5 p.m.; Ankeny will play at 7 p.m.

by

Thanks to a threat of rain, fans of the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial baseball teams won't have to choose which postseason game to attend on Friday night. They'll be able to watch both the Hawks and the Jaguars. Ankeny (19-16) will host Newton (11-20) in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal at 7 p.m., while Centennial (20-18) will host Mason City (18-21) in a … [Read more...] about Centennial game moved up to 5 p.m.; Ankeny will play at 7 p.m.

Homers by Brecht, Agan power Hawks past Gilbert in regular-season finale

by

The Ankeny baseball team will take a five-game winning streak into postseason play after posting a 10-4 victory at Gilbert in its regular-season finale on Tuesday. The Hawks took a 4-0 lead in the first inning, then added two runs in the third, three in the fourth and one more in the fifth. They pounded out 12 hits off three Gilbert pitchers, five of them … [Read more...] about Homers by Brecht, Agan power Hawks past Gilbert in regular-season finale

Walk-off win allows Tigers to claim outright conference title

by

The Valley baseball team had already clinched at least a share of the CIML Central Conference title heading into Monday's doubleheader against visiting Ankeny. The Tigers were determined to capture the outright crown. Valley swept the twinbill by scores of 6-5 and 4-1 to finish with a 15-5 record in the league. The Tigers improved to 24-12 … [Read more...] about Walk-off win allows Tigers to claim outright conference title

Maifeld tosses 3-hitter, leads Hawks to split against No. 6 S.E. Polk

by

When Jayden Maifeld is at the top of his game, the Ankeny baseball team can be pretty dangerous. Maifeld tossed a three-hitter and had eight strikeouts to lead the Hawks to a 5-2 victory over sixth-ranked Southeast Polk in the first game of a CIML Central Conference doubleheader on Saturday at Ankeny. "I felt great," said Maifeld, who evened his record … [Read more...] about Maifeld tosses 3-hitter, leads Hawks to split against No. 6 S.E. Polk

Hawks bounce back to win nightcap, earn split against Waukee

by

Ankeny baseball coach Joe Balvanz wanted to use both Cameron Rinker and Chris Spear on the mound during Wednesday's doubleheader against visiting Waukee. He is also hoping to get some innings out of both pitchers during Saturday's make-up twinbill against sixth-ranked Southeast Polk. The only solution was to split Wednesday's second game between the … [Read more...] about Hawks bounce back to win nightcap, earn split against Waukee