Senior shortstop Marina Carter led the Ankeny softball team to a 21-17 record this season. She earned all-state honors for the second straight year, landing a spot on the Class 5A first team from the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. Carter batted .496 with four home runs and 54 RBIs. She tied for 10th in the state with 18 doubles. Here is some inside … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Marina Carter, Ankeny softball
Marina Carter
‘We felt good, and then we didn’t’: Hawkettes’ lead evaporates in 5th inning
Marina Carter did everything she could to lead the Ankeny softball team to a victory on Monday over its crosstown rival. It just wasn't enough. Carter made a few outstanding defensive plays at shortstop and also slugged a two-run homer for the visiting Hawkettes, but 10th-ranked Ankeny Centennial rallied for a 4-2 victory in a Class 5A regional … [Read more...] about ‘We felt good, and then we didn’t’: Hawkettes’ lead evaporates in 5th inning
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 143
Softball stars Ella Schulz of Ankeny Centennial and Marina Carter of Ankeny join baseball standouts Weston Fulk of Ankeny and Jackson Powell of Centennial, along with realtor Tom Butler, as the guests on the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 143
‘It was just a fun battle for 14 innings’: Jags hold off Ankeny twice to earn sweep
Monday's softball doubleheader at Ankeny High School was all about pride. A lot more will be at stake the next time the Hawkettes face crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial. The 10th-ranked Jaguars traveled to the south side and came away with a sweep of the twinbill, 7-6 and 12-9. "I think it definitely gives us momentum coming into the next game in a … [Read more...] about ‘It was just a fun battle for 14 innings’: Jags hold off Ankeny twice to earn sweep
‘She could go 2-for-2 in a phone booth’: Carter has 4 hits, 5 RBIs in Ankeny’s win
Ankeny's Marina Carter has picked up right where she left off last season. Carter, who batted .616 as a junior, went 4-for-5 and drove in five runs to lead the 13th-ranked Hawkettes to a 14-4 victory over visiting Dallas Center-Grimes in a non-conference softball game on Thursday. The contest ended after six innings due to the 10-run mercy rule. "It's … [Read more...] about ‘She could go 2-for-2 in a phone booth’: Carter has 4 hits, 5 RBIs in Ankeny’s win
Ankeny’s Carter to join Centennial’s Schulz on Minnesota State softball roster
Last month, the Minnesota State softball program added a talented recruit from Ankeny in the Class of 2021. Now, the Mavericks have added another. Ankeny shortstop Marina Carter has verbally committed to play for Minnesota State, an NCAA Division II program. She follows in the footsteps of Ankeny Centennial catcher Ella Schulz, who committed to the … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Carter to join Centennial’s Schulz on Minnesota State softball roster
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 98
Check out the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by the Ankeny office of Iowa Realty. Ankeny Fanatic publisher Dan Holm interviews Ankeny softball star Marina Carter as well as baseball standouts Jase Bauer of Ankeny and Avery Gates of Ankeny Centennial about the upcoming state tournaments. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 98
‘We expected a lot of runs’: Hawkettes, Jaguars split high-scoring twinbill
The Ankeny softball team got a much-needed victory Wednesday against its crosstown rival. Then Ankeny Centennial bounced back with one of its own. The two squads split a high-scoring CIML doubleheader at Ankeny, combining for 35 runs. The 15th-ranked Hawkettes ended a four-game losing skid with an 11-8 victory in the opener before No. 11 Centennial … [Read more...] about ‘We expected a lot of runs’: Hawkettes, Jaguars split high-scoring twinbill
Hawkettes regain sole possession of first place on Daugherty’s walk-off single
With one swing of the bat, Malea Daugherty lifted the Ankeny softball team back into sole possession of first place in the CIML Central Conference. Daugherty hit a walk-off single with two outs in the eighth inning to give the 11th-ranked Hawkettes a 5-4 victory over No. 12 Southeast Polk in the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday at Ankeny. The … [Read more...] about Hawkettes regain sole possession of first place on Daugherty’s walk-off single
Hawkettes knock off No. 1 C.R. Kennedy, finish 2nd at Fort Dodge Invitational
The Ankeny softball team was just three outs away from winning the Fort Dodge Invitational title on Saturday. Unfortunately, the host Dodgers refused to go away quietly. Tenth-ranked Fort Dodge scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally past the Hawkettes, 10-9, in the championship game of the tournament. The Dodgers (20-4) … [Read more...] about Hawkettes knock off No. 1 C.R. Kennedy, finish 2nd at Fort Dodge Invitational
Hawkettes, now ranked 11th, extend winning streak to 6 games
The Ankeny softball team moved back into the Class 5A rankings on Thursday, earning a No. 11 ranking from the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union after sweeping a doubleheader against then-No. 3 Valley on Wednesday. A few hours later, the Hawkettes extended their winning streak to six games by sweeping a non-conference twinbill against Des Moines … [Read more...] about Hawkettes, now ranked 11th, extend winning streak to 6 games
Thomas blasts 2 more HRs; Hawkettes sweep Valley for league lead
Whatever Kennedy Thomas is doing at the plate, it appears to be working. Thomas blasted two home runs in the first game of a doubleheader against third-ranked Valley on Wednesday, igniting the Ankeny softball team to a rare sweep of the visiting Tigers. The Hawkettes posted wins of 5-2 and 6-4 to move into sole possession of first place in the CIML … [Read more...] about Thomas blasts 2 more HRs; Hawkettes sweep Valley for league lead
Hawkettes fall to Atlantic, beat Burlington at Creston tournament
The Ankeny softball team split a pair of games against ranked opponents on Friday at the Creston Invitational. The Hawkettes dropped a 5-4 decision to Atlantic, the No. 8 team in Class 3A. But they posted a 5-3 victory over Burlington, which is ranked 13th in Class 5A with a 19-2 record. Kennedy Thomas (1-0) tossed an eight-hitter in the win over … [Read more...] about Hawkettes fall to Atlantic, beat Burlington at Creston tournament
Jaguars end losing streak, earn split against No. 13 Ankeny
The Ankeny Centennial softball team got a much-needed victory on Thursday night. A former Centennial player helped 13th-ranked Ankeny to a 10-6 win in the first game of a CIML Central Conference doubleheader before the Jaguars rebounded with an 11-4 triumph in the nightcap at Ankeny. The win was Centennial's first against a league opponent and snapped … [Read more...] about Jaguars end losing streak, earn split against No. 13 Ankeny
After 6-1 start, Hawkettes look to end state tournament drought
The Ankeny softball team hasn't qualified for the state tournament since 2015, when the Hawkettes placed seventh in Class 5A. This year's squad appears to have the talent to end that drought. "I think our depth has really been building," said Ankeny coach Dave Bingham. "I feel like we're set up for something really special, and I think it's a product … [Read more...] about After 6-1 start, Hawkettes look to end state tournament drought
Jacobsen returns to mound, helps Hawkettes to win over Carlisle
The Ankeny softball team pounded out 11 hits and rolled to a 9-1 victory over visiting Carlisle on Tuesday. After giving up an unearned run in the top of the first, Ankeny tied the game in the bottom of the frame. The Hawkettes then took the lead for good with a four-run second inning. The Wildcats dropped to 0-2 after opening the season with a 2-1 … [Read more...] about Jacobsen returns to mound, helps Hawkettes to win over Carlisle