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Joe Balvanz

‘That was a big-time comeback’: 5-run 7th inning allows Hawks to salvage split

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The Ankeny baseball team appeared to be on its way to a doubleheader loss on Monday that would have stifled the Hawks' momentum heading into postseason play. Visiting Valley was three outs away from completing a sweep before second-ranked Ankeny rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to post a dramatic 7-6 victory. "That was a … [Read more...] about ‘That was a big-time comeback’: 5-run 7th inning allows Hawks to salvage split

Hawks take care of business, roll to pair of 5-inning victories at North

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Ankeny baseball coach Joe Balvanz was hoping that his players could take care of business quickly on Friday. Mission accomplished. The third-ranked Hawks traveled to Des Moines North for an afternoon doubleheader and came away with a pair of five-inning victories, 14-0 and 14-1. They improved to 17-7 on the season, while the Polar Bears' record dropped … [Read more...] about Hawks take care of business, roll to pair of 5-inning victories at North

Dowling’s misfortune allows Hawks to earn No. 1 seed, bye into substate final

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The Ankeny baseball team will only have to win one game to qualify for this year's state tournament. However, the third-ranked Hawks will also have to overcome an eight-day layoff to earn a return trip to Principal Park. Ankeny (15-7) has been awarded the No. 1 seed in Class 4A Substate 8 after top-ranked Dowling Catholic was forced to cancel the rest … [Read more...] about Dowling’s misfortune allows Hawks to earn No. 1 seed, bye into substate final

Hawks build some momentum for postseason with sweep over S.E. Polk

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The Ankeny baseball players had several reasons to be motivated on Wednesday. For someone like Bryce Rinderknecht, it might have been his final opportunity to take the mound for the Hawks. He didn't want to let it go to waste. For others such as Brody Brecht, a chance for some revenge against Southeast Polk was a huge motivating factor. Brecht went … [Read more...] about Hawks build some momentum for postseason with sweep over S.E. Polk

No. 3 Hawks split with No. 1 Dowling in potential substate final preview

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(UPDATE: The rest of Dowling Catholic's season has been cancelled after one of its players tested positive for COVID-19.) Tuesday's baseball doubleheader at Dowling Catholic provided a unique opportunity for both the top-ranked Maroons and No. 3 Ankeny to get a glimpse of their potential opponent in a Class 4A substate final. Both squads have been … [Read more...] about No. 3 Hawks split with No. 1 Dowling in potential substate final preview

‘The guys played at a high level’: Ankeny sweeps Jaguars behind pitching gems

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The Ankeny baseball team brought all of its pitching arms to Principal Park on Wednesday. That spelled trouble for the Hawks' crosstown rival. Fifth-ranked Ankeny got a pair of pitching gems from Bryce Rinderknecht and Brody Brecht to sweep a doubleheader against No. 10 Ankeny Centennial, 4-1 and 2-1. The Hawks gained some much-needed revenge after … [Read more...] about ‘The guys played at a high level’: Ankeny sweeps Jaguars behind pitching gems

Hawks sweep rival at Principal Park; Centennial salvages split in softball

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Nobody had to remind Brody Brecht what happened last year when his Ankeny baseball team played crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial. Brecht allowed just two hits over six scoreless innings and had 13 strikeouts to lead the fifth-ranked Hawks past No. 10 Centennial, 2-1, in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader at Principal Park. Ankeny also won the … [Read more...] about Hawks sweep rival at Principal Park; Centennial salvages split in softball

‘I think we’re going to keep rolling now’: Somers sparks sweep with walk-off hit

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The Ankeny baseball players may have violated one of the social distancing guidelines on Friday. But in the Hawks' defense, they had a good reason to do so. Kade Somers hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning to give second-ranked Ankeny a 2-1 victory over No. 5 Waukee in the first game of a CIML doubleheader. The host Hawks then … [Read more...] about ‘I think we’re going to keep rolling now’: Somers sparks sweep with walk-off hit

Hawks end three-game slide, earn split with 13-6 victory over Valley

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With a No. 2 ranking in Class 4A, the Ankeny baseball team entered the season with some high expectations. The Hawks have placed a lot of pressure on themselves to meet those expectations--and haven't always succeeded. Wednesday's doubleheader at Valley may have been a turning point for coach Joe Balvanz and his players. After Ankeny suffered its third … [Read more...] about Hawks end three-game slide, earn split with 13-6 victory over Valley

No. 3 S.E. Polk walks off with sweep over No. 2 Hawks

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The schedule got a lot tougher for the Ankeny baseball team on Monday night. The second-ranked Hawks discovered that they still have a lot of work to do. Ankeny traveled to No. 3 Southeast Polk for a CIML doubleheader and got swept by the undefeated Rams, 8-1 and 7-6. "They exposed some things that we need to work on," said Ankeny coach Joe … [Read more...] about No. 3 S.E. Polk walks off with sweep over No. 2 Hawks

Rinderknecht tosses 1-hit gem in opener of Hawks’ sweep over Hoover

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Bryce Rinderknecht was anxious to get back on the mound following a tough loss on Wednesday. The Ankeny senior got another chance to pitch less than 48 hours later--and he made the most of it. Rinderknecht tossed a one-hitter and had 10 strikeouts to lead the second-ranked Hawks to a 4-0 victory over visiting Des Moines Hoover in the first game of a … [Read more...] about Rinderknecht tosses 1-hit gem in opener of Hawks’ sweep over Hoover

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