Ankeny Fanatic

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Joe Balvanz

‘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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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