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
Mark Hey
Meador, Neils throw complete games, but Centennial falls twice to J-Hawks
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
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
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
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
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
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
Jaguars rally from 4-1 deficit to complete sweep over No. 6 Waukee
The Waukee baseball team entered Wednesday's doubleheader at Ankeny Centennial with an unblemished record. The sixth-ranked Warriors returned home with their first two losses of the season. No. 8 Centennial swept the twinbill by scores of 5-1 and 7-4 to improve to 6-2 on the season. Waukee's mark dropped to 7-2. "They're a great team. They're very … [Read more...] about Jaguars rally from 4-1 deficit to complete sweep over No. 6 Waukee
No. 1 Johnston baseball team sweeps Centennial in matchup of unbeaten foes
The Johnston baseball team showed on Monday why the Dragons are ranked No. 1 in Class 4A. Johnston rolled to a 14-3 victory over visiting Ankeny Centennial in six innings, then completed a sweep of the doubleheader with a 4-3 win in eight innings. It was the CIML Central Conference opener for both squads. "There's no doubt that right now they're the … [Read more...] about No. 1 Johnston baseball team sweeps Centennial in matchup of unbeaten foes
Jaguars stay unbeaten with wins over North Polk, Davenport North
A four-run rally in the fifth inning allowed the Ankeny Centennial baseball team to defeat North Polk, 7-4, in the Tim Heggen Invitational on Saturday. The Jaguars later used a 10-run fourth inning to post an 11-1 victory over Davenport North in five innings. They raised their record to 4-0 on the season. "Those were two very good teams that we played … [Read more...] about Jaguars stay unbeaten with wins over North Polk, Davenport North
Jaguars blank Lincoln, then erupt for 20 runs to complete sweep
The Ankeny Centennial baseball team showed on Thursday that it can win games in a variety of ways. The Jaguars opened their season by sweeping a doubleheader at Des Moines Lincoln, which had split a twinbill against Valley on Monday. In the first game, Centennial posted a 6-0 victory behind a strong pitching performance by Trey Morris, who allowed just … [Read more...] about Jaguars blank Lincoln, then erupt for 20 runs to complete sweep
Positive chemistry, 8 returning starters could be winning formula for Jaguars
As a chemistry teacher at Ankeny Centennial, Mark Hey knows all about the way substances interact and change. Hey also knows about the importance of chemistry on the baseball field, since he serves as the Jaguars' head coach. And thus far, he likes the way his players have interacted. "The practices have been going well," said Hey. "The weather has … [Read more...] about Positive chemistry, 8 returning starters could be winning formula for Jaguars
Jaguars’ late rally falls short; Valley advances to substate final
A dramatic rally in the seventh inning put the Ankeny Centennial baseball team in position to pull off an upset at 10th-ranked Valley on Monday. However, the Jaguars couldn't complete the comeback. Centennial scored two runs with two outs to tie the game before Valley's Jevon Mason hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the inning to give the Tigers a … [Read more...] about Jaguars’ late rally falls short; Valley advances to substate final
Jaguars hold off Mason City for 3-2 victory in postseason opener
With a 3-0 lead after six innings, the Ankeny Centennial baseball team appeared to be on its way to a stress-free victory over visiting Mason City in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal on Friday. Then, things started to get interesting. Mason City's Nate Lassise led off the top of the seventh with a double. After Bryce Butler grounded out, Centennial … [Read more...] about Jaguars hold off Mason City for 3-2 victory in postseason opener
Centennial game moved up to 5 p.m.; Ankeny will play at 7 p.m.
Thanks to a threat of rain, fans of the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial baseball teams won't have to choose which postseason game to attend on Friday night. They'll be able to watch both the Hawks and the Jaguars. Ankeny (19-16) will host Newton (11-20) in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal at 7 p.m., while Centennial (20-18) will host Mason City (18-21) in a … [Read more...] about Centennial game moved up to 5 p.m.; Ankeny will play at 7 p.m.
Jaguars sweep Fort Dodge, assure themselves of winning season
The Ankeny Centennial baseball team pounded out 22 hits en route to a doubleheader sweep on Monday at Fort Dodge, assuring the Jaguars of a winning season. Centennial posted a 7-5 victory in the opener, then erupted for 11 runs in the sixth inning to win the nightcap, 19-2, in six innings. The Jaguars improved their record to 20-18 heading into Friday's … [Read more...] about Jaguars sweep Fort Dodge, assure themselves of winning season
Jaguars begin busy week with doubleheader loss at Waukee
The Ankeny Centennial baseball team won't have much time to recover from Monday's doubleheader loss at Waukee. The Jaguars will be back on the field Tuesday morning for a make-up doubleheader against visiting Cedar Rapids Kennedy, beginning at 11 a.m. "It's a busy week," said Centennial coach Mark Hey, whose team will also play two more twinbills on … [Read more...] about Jaguars begin busy week with doubleheader loss at Waukee
Valley sweeps Centennial, clinches share of Central Conference baseball title
The Valley baseball team clinched at least a tie for the CIML Central Conference title by sweeping Ankeny Centennial for the second time this season in a make-up doubleheader on Friday at Centennial. The Tigers posted a 15-5 victory in six innings in the opener, then rolled to an 11-2 triumph in the nightcap. They improved to 13-5 in the conference and … [Read more...] about Valley sweeps Centennial, clinches share of Central Conference baseball title
Stober, Greiner hurl Jaguars to wins over Gilbert, Ottumwa
Strong pitching performances by Noah Stober and Alex Greiner lifted the Ankeny Centennial baseball team to a pair of victories in the Brent Prange Classic on Friday and Saturday. Greiner tossed a three-hitter in the Jaguars' 5-0 win over Ottumwa on Saturday. He walked none and had six strikeouts while improving his record to 2-0. Griener was named … [Read more...] about Stober, Greiner hurl Jaguars to wins over Gilbert, Ottumwa
Struggling Jaguars get swept by S.E. Polk, fall to 9-11 overall
It took only four batters for the Ankeny Centennial baseball team to score a run during Monday's doubleheader at Southeast Polk. Unfortunately, the Jaguars never scored again. Southeast Polk posted a 2-1 victory in the opener, then rolled to a 10-0 win in six innings to complete a sweep of the twinbill. The eighth-ranked Rams, who were swept at … [Read more...] about Struggling Jaguars get swept by S.E. Polk, fall to 9-11 overall