Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Mark Hey

Centennial splits against No. 3 Urbandale in potential substate preview

by

Monday's doubleheader between the Ankeny Centennial and Urbandale baseball teams resulted in a split. The two squads may get a chance to break the tie next month. The third-ranked J-Hawks and No. 10 Centennial have both been placed in Class 4A Substate 7. If they meet again, it would likely be in a substate final. "That's always a motivational … [Read more...] about Centennial splits against No. 3 Urbandale in potential substate preview

Centennial baseball team ends losing skid with sweep over Tigers

by

After scoring a total of just seven runs during a four-game losing streak, the Ankeny Centennial baseball team needed to bounce back Friday in a big way. The Jaguars responded with a doubleheader sweep over visiting Valley. Centennial rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to post a 7-5 victory in the opener, then followed with a 4-1 triumph in the second … [Read more...] about Centennial baseball team ends losing skid with sweep over Tigers

Cox fires 1-hitter to complete Maroons’ sweep over Centennial

by

Even without Carter Baumler, the Dowling Catholic baseball team still boasts some talented pitchers. The seventh-ranked Maroons got a one-hitter from Connor Cox and posted a 4-0 victory over visiting Ankeny Centennial to complete a sweep of Wednesday's CIML doubleheader. Dowling won the first game, 4-3, as a trio of pitchers combined to scatter seven … [Read more...] about Cox fires 1-hitter to complete Maroons’ sweep over Centennial

No. 4 Dragons sweep Centennial in matchup of unbeaten baseball teams

by

The Johnston baseball team entered Monday's doubleheader against Ankeny Centennial with an impressive resume. The fourth-ranked Dragons had played only one seven-inning game while outscoring their first six opponents by an 87-4 margin. Only once had the Dragons scored fewer than 12 runs in the first week of the season. The visiting Jaguars managed to … [Read more...] about No. 4 Dragons sweep Centennial in matchup of unbeaten baseball teams

Alberhasky, Churchman hurl Centennial baseball team to sweep over Bobcats

by

The Ankeny Centennial baseball team just keeps rolling along. The Jaguars swept another CIML doubleheader on Friday, posting 6-0 and 4-2 victories over visiting Marshalltown. They improved to 6-0 on the season, while the winless Bobcats fell to 0-6. "We're off to a nice start," said Centennial coach Mark Hey. "We got some really good pitching on … [Read more...] about Alberhasky, Churchman hurl Centennial baseball team to sweep over Bobcats

Jaguars complete sweep over East on Gray’s walk-off triple in 9th inning

by

Seven of the top 10 teams in the Class 4A preseason rankings by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association are from the Central Iowa Metropolitan League. Ankeny Centennial isn't one of them, but the Jaguars are making a strong case to be included in the next rankings. After sweeping No. 9 Des Moines Roosevelt in its season opener on Monday, … [Read more...] about Jaguars complete sweep over East on Gray’s walk-off triple in 9th inning

Unranked–and underrated?–Jaguars sweep No. 9 Roosevelt at Principal Park

by

Much of the attention on Monday's baseball doubleheader between Ankeny Centennial and Des Moines Roosevelt was focused on the national anthem. But once the games began at Principal Park, the Jaguars showed that they might be an underrated team in Class 4A. After the Roosevelt players knelt during the anthem to join the ongoing protest against racial … [Read more...] about Unranked–and underrated?–Jaguars sweep No. 9 Roosevelt at Principal Park

‘We’ve got some really good culture guys’: Jaguars to rely on seniors

by

There's no shortage of talent on this year's Ankeny Centennial baseball team. The Jaguars return several starters from last year's squad that went 28-12 for the most wins in school history. "We've got some really good culture guys," said Centennial coach Mark Hey. "Our seniors are tremendous leaders, and I'm just so excited that we get to have a season … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got some really good culture guys’: Jaguars to rely on seniors

Summer sports athletes preparing for return to field with precautions

by

Jasmine Rumley wasn't sure if she'd get another chance to wear her Ankeny softball uniform. Now, it appears that she will. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced last week that summer athletic seasons may be conducted for high school baseball and softball following a two-month suspension of activities due to the coronavirus. Practices will begin on June … [Read more...] about Summer sports athletes preparing for return to field with precautions

S.E. Polk’s big first inning ends Jaguars’ winningest season in school history

by

Tyler Heinzerling took a stroll in the outfield grass all by himself. Ankeny Centennial's senior pitcher stared off into the distance as he realized his high school baseball career was over. "This is my team here--my favorite team that I've ever played with," said Heinzerling. "I had confidence in all our guys. It just didn't end the way we wanted it … [Read more...] about S.E. Polk’s big first inning ends Jaguars’ winningest season in school history

Jaguars edge Urbandale twice, allowing Johnston to capture conference title

by

The Ankeny Centennial baseball team appears to be ready for postseason play. The seventh-ranked Jaguars swept a doubleheader against No. 4 Urbandale, 5-4 and 9-8, on Monday at Centennial. The sweep avenged two earlier losses to the J-Hawks and allowed No. 1 Johnston to clinch the outright CIML Central Conference title. "Both games were nailbiters," … [Read more...] about Jaguars edge Urbandale twice, allowing Johnston to capture conference title

Jaguars split with Dowling as Meador tosses 5-hitter in 3-2 victory in opener

by

There is no shortage of outstanding pitchers in the Central Iowa Metropolitan League. Monday's baseball doubleheader between seventh-ranked Ankeny Centennial and No. 9 Dowling Catholic was clear evidence of that. The two squads split a low-scoring twinbill at Dowling. Centennial posted a 3-2 victory in the opener before the Maroons rebounded to win the … [Read more...] about Jaguars split with Dowling as Meador tosses 5-hitter in 3-2 victory in opener

Centennial erupts for 42 runs in pair of lopsided wins over Little Cyclones

by

The scoreboard operator was kept pretty busy on Wednesday at the Ames High School baseball field. Ninth-ranked Ankeny Centennial erupted for 42 runs in a CIML Central Conference doubleheader sweep over the Little Cyclones. The Jaguars rolled to a 25-1 victory in four innings in the opener, then completed the sweep with a 17-6 win in five innings. "It … [Read more...] about Centennial erupts for 42 runs in pair of lopsided wins over Little Cyclones

Meador, Neils throw complete games, but Centennial falls twice to J-Hawks

by

Josh Meador and Logan Neils each pitched a complete game for the Ankeny Centennial baseball team on Thursday. Unfortunately, Urbandale's pitching--especially that of junior Ty Langenberg--was just a little bit better. The 10th-ranked J-Hawks got a one-hitter from Langenberg in the first game and went on to sweep a doubleheader against No. 8 Centennial, … [Read more...] about Meador, Neils throw complete games, but Centennial falls twice to J-Hawks

Hawks take 4-game winning streak into doubleheader against No. 8 Centennial

by

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

Centennial, Fort Dodge combine for 47 runs in doubleheader split

by

On Wednesday, the Ankeny Centennial baseball team played a doubleheader against Dowling Catholic that featured strong pitching performances by both squads, resulting in a total of just nine runs being scored. Thursday's twinbill against visiting Fort Dodge was pretty much the exact opposite. With both pitching staffs depleted after playing four games … [Read more...] about Centennial, Fort Dodge combine for 47 runs in doubleheader split

Centennial baseball team falls twice to Dowling in matchup of top-5 teams

by

Some strong pitching performances lifted the Dowling Catholic baseball team to a doubleheader sweep on Wednesday at Ankeny Centennial, snapping the third-ranked Jaguars' seven-game winning streak. The No. 5 Maroons rallied for a 4-2 victory in eight innings in the opener. They then completed the sweep with a 2-1 win in the nightcap. "They just played a … [Read more...] about Centennial baseball team falls twice to Dowling in matchup of top-5 teams

Gates’ walk-off single gives Centennial sweep over Little Cyclones

by

Ankeny Centennial baseball coach Mark Hey didn't mind that both games of Monday's doubleheader against visiting Ames turned out to be nailbiters. The third-ranked Jaguars held off a late Ames rally to post a 5-3 victory in the opener, then completed a sweep with a 2-1 walk-off win in the nightcap. "They were very close games," said Hey. "But it's nice … [Read more...] about Gates’ walk-off single gives Centennial sweep over Little Cyclones

Red-hot Jaguars sweep Ottumwa, extend winning streak to 5 games

by

The Ankeny Centennial baseball squad might be one of the hottest squads in the state. The Jaguars got a masterful pitching performance from Trey Morris in a 1-0 victory at Ottumwa in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday. They then completed a sweep with a 17-3 triumph in the nightcap, which saw Centennial end the contest with a 10-run sixth … [Read more...] about Red-hot Jaguars sweep Ottumwa, extend winning streak to 5 games