Ankeny Fanatic

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Mark Hey

‘Pitching should be a strength’: Jaguars return several starters from 18-18 squad

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It's finally starting to feel like baseball weather. As the temperature has soared into the 90s this week, the Ankeny Centennial baseball team continues to prepare for its season opener. The Jaguars will host a non-conference game against Williamsburg on Tuesday. "So far the practices have been going well," said Centennial coach Mark Hey, whose team is … [Read more...] about ‘Pitching should be a strength’: Jaguars return several starters from 18-18 squad

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Lincoln Lacey, Ankeny Centennial baseball

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Lacey batted .425 with one home run, a triple and 10 RBIs. On the mound, he posted a 2-4 mark with a 2.03 ERA while racking up 34 strikeouts. Junior pitcher and first baseman Lincoln Lacey helped the Ankeny Centennial baseball team to an 18-18 record this season. Lacey was named to the CIML Iowa Conference second team. "Lincoln was a tremendous … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Lincoln Lacey, Ankeny Centennial baseball

‘Things just didn’t go our way’: Jaguars fall to Roosevelt in 10 innings

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Ankeny Centennial outfielder Easton Miller had been chasing down fly balls all afternoon. Des Moines Roosevelt's Walker Bennett finally hit a ball that Miller couldn't catch. Bennett stroked an RBI double in the bottom of the 10th inning to tie the game, then scored the winning run on an error as the host Roughriders rallied for a 3-2 victory over … [Read more...] about ‘Things just didn’t go our way’: Jaguars fall to Roosevelt in 10 innings

Jaguars fall twice at No. 4 Dowling, will now gear up for postseason play

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The Ankeny Centennial baseball team closed out the regular season on Monday with a doubleheader loss at fourth-ranked Dowling Catholic. The Maroons are the type of team that Centennial will likely have to beat in order to qualify for state. "Other than the losses, it was kind of what we wanted to see going into the postseason," said Centennial coach … [Read more...] about Jaguars fall twice at No. 4 Dowling, will now gear up for postseason play

Jaguars win seesaw battle at Mason City, move into 2nd-place tie with Mohawks

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The Ankeny Centennial baseball team needed a sweep on Monday in order to earn a second-place finish in the CIML Iowa Conference. The Jaguars are well on their way to getting it. Centennial posted an 8-6 victory in the first game of a doubleheader at Mason City, moving into a tie for second place with the Mohawks. The Jaguars then built a 5-0 lead in … [Read more...] about Jaguars win seesaw battle at Mason City, move into 2nd-place tie with Mohawks

Jaguars fall to No. 1 Pleasant Valley in 9 innings at Prange Classic

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The Ankeny Centennial baseball team nearly knocked off the state's No. 1 squad on Saturday. The Jaguars used a six-run first inning to build a 7-3 lead over Pleasant Valley in the Brent Prange Classic at Saydel. But the Spartans scored two runs in the fifth and two more in the seventh to force extra innings. After both teams scored twice in the eighth … [Read more...] about Jaguars fall to No. 1 Pleasant Valley in 9 innings at Prange Classic

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Andrew Tilton, Ankeny Centennial baseball

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Senior Andrew Tilton has helped the Ankeny Centennial baseball team to a 13-11 record. He is batting .200 with one RBI. Tilton has made five appearances on the mound, including one start. He has compiled a 2-0 mark with a 2.88 ERA. "Andrew has filled several key roles for us this year: relief pitcher, starting pitcher, and he has started at third … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Andrew Tilton, Ankeny Centennial baseball

Jaguars sweep Fort Dodge, move into 2nd-place tie in CIML Iowa Conference

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Damin Churchman and the Ankeny Centennial baseball team are on a roll. Churchman helped the Jaguars to a sweep of a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader on Monday at Fort Dodge. He scored three times in a 5-4 victory in eight innings in the opener, then earned the win on the mound in the nightcap as Centennial completed the sweep with a 12-6 triumph. The … [Read more...] about Jaguars sweep Fort Dodge, move into 2nd-place tie in CIML Iowa Conference

Centennial baseball team erupts for 30 runs in victory over Polar Bears

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Thursday's non-conference game against visiting Des Moines North provided an opportunity for Ankeny Centennial baseball coach Mark Hey to go deep into his bench. Even if the contest lasted just four innings. The Jaguars exploded for 17 runs in the first inning and then added 13 more in the second to post a 30-0 victory. It was the most lopsided win in … [Read more...] about Centennial baseball team erupts for 30 runs in victory over Polar Bears

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny baseball team (1st team)

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Nobody has been more associated with the Ankeny baseball program than Mel Murken. Murken coached the Hawks for 32 years and racked up 620 victories at the school. He's a member of the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. In 1992, Murken guided Ankeny to the first state championship in school history. Two of the stars on that … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny baseball team (1st team)

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny baseball team (2nd team)

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Earlier this week, Ankeny Fanatic announced the first of three teams that comprise the all-time Ankeny baseball team--the 12 players on the third team. Today, we are announcing the second team. The first team will be unveiled by the end of the week. Ankeny Centennial coach Mark Hey coached several of the players on the second team during his tenure as … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny baseball team (2nd team)

Oakie, Churchman combine for 20 K’s as Jaguars roll to pair of wins at Ames

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It's hard for a team to build some confidence when it's struggling to win games. That's why Monday's doubleheader at Ames may have been a turning point for the Ankeny Centennial baseball team. The Jaguars won both games of the CIML Iowa Conference twinbill for only their second sweep of the season. They posted a 5-0 victory in the opener, then followed … [Read more...] about Oakie, Churchman combine for 20 K’s as Jaguars roll to pair of wins at Ames

‘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

Jaguars split twinbill at Marshalltown, will host Ankeny on Wednesday

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Two baseball teams trying to find some consistency split a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader on Monday at Marshalltown. Ankeny Centennial posted a 12-8 victory in the opener. The host Bobcats then answered with a 10-8 win in the nightcap. "It was very sloppy," said Centennial coach Mark Hey. "There were a lot of walks and a lot of errors on both … [Read more...] about Jaguars split twinbill at Marshalltown, will host Ankeny on Wednesday

Centennial hits 5 doubles in 12-2 victory over North Polk at Heggen Invitational

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The Ankeny Centennial baseball team has been working hard on taking an extra base when the opportunity presents itself. On Saturday, the Jaguars did just that during a 12-2 victory over North Polk in five innings at the Tim Heggen Invitational. They had 12 hits in the game, including five doubles. "Most of them weren't doubles off the wall," said … [Read more...] about Centennial hits 5 doubles in 12-2 victory over North Polk at Heggen Invitational

Jaguars get their bats going, sweep doubleheader against Roosevelt

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After a rough start to the season, the Ankeny Centennial baseball team seems to have found a groove. The Jaguars improved their record to 3-4 by sweeping a non-conference doubleheader against visiting Des Moines Roosevelt on Wednesday. They posted a 12-2 victory in six innings in the opener, then completed the sweep with a 7-3 triumph. "We swung the … [Read more...] about Jaguars get their bats going, sweep doubleheader against Roosevelt

Inexperienced Jaguars ‘just want to improve each week’ throughout season

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With only four returning starters, the Ankeny Centennial baseball team enters the season with a lot of question marks. Centennial coach Mark Hey is optimistic, though, that he'll be able to find some answers. "We have some really talented young players who have good instincts for the game," Hey said. "I think we have several pitchers who will have … [Read more...] about Inexperienced Jaguars ‘just want to improve each week’ throughout season

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Eliot Alberhasky, Ankeny Centennial baseball

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Junior Eliot Alberhasky is a member of the eighth-ranked Ankeny Centennial baseball team. He helped the Jaguars to a 14-12 record this season. Alberhasky compiled a 2-2 mark on the mound with a 4.85 ERA. He limited opposing batters to a .178 average. Alberhasky posted wins over Marshalltown on June 19 and Valley on June 26. He allowed no earned runs … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Eliot Alberhasky, Ankeny Centennial baseball

‘I love those guys with all my heart’: Centennial seniors bow out with 5-3 loss

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The Ankeny Centennial baseball team tried to keep its season alive with a dramatic seventh-inning rally. Trailing 5-2 against visiting Des Moines Roosevelt in a Class 4A substate semifinal on Monday, the eighth-ranked Jaguars loaded the bases with one out against Roughriders reliever Will Armstrong. "I was so proud of our guys," said Centennial coach … [Read more...] about ‘I love those guys with all my heart’: Centennial seniors bow out with 5-3 loss