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Sarah Saladino

Waukee softball team rallies twice to sweep doubleheader against Hawkettes

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Despite dropping both games of a doubleheader on Thursday at Waukee, Ankeny softball coach Sarah Saladino saw a lot of positives in her team's play. "The girls showed a ton of grit all night long," she said. "We embraced the pressure tonight." The Hawkettes scored five runs in the sixth inning to take an 8-6 lead in the nightcap. They were only six … [Read more...] about Waukee softball team rallies twice to sweep doubleheader against Hawkettes

Arringdale, Hogan, Hutchins hit blasts to lead Hawkettes to 14-7 win at Johnston

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The Ankeny softball team pounded out 18 hits, seven of them for extra bases, and rolled to a 14-7 victory at Johnston in its CIML Conference opener on Wednesday. Every Ankeny starter had at least one base hit, and six of them had multiple hits. The Hawkettes scored five runs in the seventh inning to seal the win after Johnston had rallied from an 8-1 … [Read more...] about Arringdale, Hogan, Hutchins hit blasts to lead Hawkettes to 14-7 win at Johnston

‘We just need to be more consistent’: Ankeny held to 3 hits in 4-1 loss to ADM

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After scoring 17 runs in its season opener on Wednesday, the Ankeny softball team managed just three hits in a 4-1 loss to visiting ADM (Adel) in a non-conference game on Tuesday. ADM got a combined 11 strikeouts from Makenna Pitlick and Lauren Hagedorn. Pitlick tossed three perfect innings to earn the win. It was the season opener for the Tigers, who … [Read more...] about ‘We just need to be more consistent’: Ankeny held to 3 hits in 4-1 loss to ADM

Hawkettes erupt for 17 runs in victory at Class 4A No. 8 North Polk to open season

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If Wednesday's season opener is any indication, the Ankeny softball team is going to have an entertaining season. The Hawkettes put up crooked numbers in four different innings and never trailed en route to a 17-10 victory at North Polk, the No. 8 team in Class 4A. "We had great production at the plate and confidence in our approach, solid defense … [Read more...] about Hawkettes erupt for 17 runs in victory at Class 4A No. 8 North Polk to open season

‘Set the Standard’: Saladino’s Hawkettes look to continue progress in 2026 season

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The Ankeny softball team returns several starters from last year's squad, but the Hawkettes will have to replace their top two pitchers. Aubrey Lensmeyer and Kaylyn Miller both graduated after helping the team to a 13-27 record in its first season under coach Sarah Saladino. Those two combined to pitch all but 14 of the 250 2/3 innings that the Hawkettes … [Read more...] about ‘Set the Standard’: Saladino’s Hawkettes look to continue progress in 2026 season

‘I’m always proud of this team’: Hawkettes drop nailbiter at S.E. Polk in regional final

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After playing her final game in an Ankeny softball uniform, senior Aubrey Lensmeyer hugged her coaches before walking off the field at Southeast Polk. Her high school career had come to an end just a few minutes earlier with a 3-2 loss in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday. "I'm always proud of this team," said Lensmeyer. "It's been an up-and-down … [Read more...] about ‘I’m always proud of this team’: Hawkettes drop nailbiter at S.E. Polk in regional final

‘I’m not surprised at all’: Confident Ankeny girls stun No. 9 Ames in regional semifinal

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Aubrey Lensmeyer and her Ankeny softball teammates were confident going into Saturday's game at Ames--even though the contest looked like a mismatch on paper. "We were the underdogs going into it, but I'm not surprised (by the result)," said Lensmeyer. 'If this team plays our game, we can win and beat anyone." Lensmeyer tossed a six-hitter and also had … [Read more...] about ‘I’m not surprised at all’: Confident Ankeny girls stun No. 9 Ames in regional semifinal

Hawkettes rally from 9-2 deficit, defeat Valley on Nelson’s walk-off double in 8th

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It would not have been ideal for the Ankeny softball team to enter regional play on a seven-game losing skid. A dramatic rally in the first game of Monday's doubleheader against fourth-ranked Valley allowed the Hawkettes to avoid that scenario. Ankeny overcame a 9-2 deficit on its home field and got a walk-off double from Avery Nelson in the bottom of … [Read more...] about Hawkettes rally from 9-2 deficit, defeat Valley on Nelson’s walk-off double in 8th

No. 1 Wolves shut out Ankeny, capture outright CIML Conference championship

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Despite dropping a 5-0 decision on Wednesday at top-ranked Waukee Northwest, the Ankeny softball team made the Wolves work for their 25th consecutive victory. Northwest led by only 2-0 through four innings. The Wolves tacked on a run in the fifth inning, then added two more in the sixth to wrap up the outright CIML Conference championship. "It was some … [Read more...] about No. 1 Wolves shut out Ankeny, capture outright CIML Conference championship

Hawkettes pound out 12 hits, but tumble to No. 6 S.E. Polk girls in extra innings

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The Ankeny softball team is hoping to get another shot at CIML Conference rival Southeast Polk. After the two squads split a doubleheader on June 5 at Pleasant Hill, the sixth-ranked Rams traveled to Ankeny on Tuesday for a make-up game and posted an 8-5 victory in eight innings. They scored two runs in the sixth inning to tie it at 5-5 and then used a … [Read more...] about Hawkettes pound out 12 hits, but tumble to No. 6 S.E. Polk girls in extra innings

Lensmeyer hurls Hawkettes past Dowling in first game of doubleheader split

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If the Ankeny softball team is going to pull off any surprises in postseason play, the Hawkettes will likely need to rely on the right arm of senior pitcher Aubrey Lensmeyer. The South Dakota recruit tossed a four-hitter and had four strikeouts to lead Ankeny to a 2-1 victory at Dowling Catholic in the first game of a doubleheader on Monday. The Maroons … [Read more...] about Lensmeyer hurls Hawkettes past Dowling in first game of doubleheader split

‘We played some very good competition’: Hawkettes place 8th at Linn-Mar Invite

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For the second weekend in a row, the Ankeny softball squad earned an eighth-place finish in a 16-team tournament by winning its first-round game before dropping the next three contests. The Hawkettes posted a 5-0 victory over North Linn in the Linn-Mar Invitational on Friday at Marion. They then dropped a 6-2 decision in the quarterfinals to Cedar Rapids … [Read more...] about ‘We played some very good competition’: Hawkettes place 8th at Linn-Mar Invite

‘Kori has grown up so much’: Lincicum hits, pitches Jags to sweep over Ankeny

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Kori Lincicum left her fingerprints all over a pair of Jaguar victories against their crosstown rival. The Ankeny Centennial junior walked off a 5-3 win with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning before tossing a four-hitter in an 8-0 shutout as the fourth-ranked Jaguars swept a doubleheader over visiting Ankeny … [Read more...] about ‘Kori has grown up so much’: Lincicum hits, pitches Jags to sweep over Ankeny

AHS pitchers shine, but Hawkettes drop pair of close games at No. 3 Johnston

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The Ankeny softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader on Tuesday at Johnston in familiar fashion. The third-ranked Dragons scored a run in the sixth inning to post a 3-2 victory in the first game, which was completed after being suspended due to rain on Wednesday. They then got a run in both the sixth and seventh innings to rally for a 2-1 win in … [Read more...] about AHS pitchers shine, but Hawkettes drop pair of close games at No. 3 Johnston

Jaguars beat Ankeny at Fort Dodge Invite, then top Dodgers to earn 5th-place finish

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The second meeting between Ankeny's crosstown rivals on the softball field came a few days earlier than expected. Fourth-ranked Ankeny Centennial and Ankeny both competed in the 16-team Fort Dodge Invitational this weekend. The two squads collided in a consolation semifinal on Saturday after they both split a pair of contests on Friday, and the Jaguars … [Read more...] about Jaguars beat Ankeny at Fort Dodge Invite, then top Dodgers to earn 5th-place finish

‘We had a lot of outs in the air’: Hawkettes held to 3 hits in 4-0 loss at No. 3 Valley

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Valley pitcher Maddie Zlomke recorded only three strikeouts during Monday's softball game against visiting Ankeny. The Hawkettes had no trouble putting the ball in play. They just didn't find many holes in Valley's defense. Zlomke had a perfect game through four innings and went on to toss a three-hitter as the third-ranked Tigers posted a 4-0 victory … [Read more...] about ‘We had a lot of outs in the air’: Hawkettes held to 3 hits in 4-0 loss at No. 3 Valley

‘We’re just really starting to trust the process’: Hawkettes finish 3-1 at Creston

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A trip to Creston may have provided a midseason spark for the Ankeny softball team. After getting off to a 4-7 start, the Hawkettes traveled to Union County over the weekend and won three of four games in the John Stephens Classic. The last three games were against Class 4A rated opponents. Ankeny (7-8) closed out the tournament on Saturday with an 8-7 … [Read more...] about ‘We’re just really starting to trust the process’: Hawkettes finish 3-1 at Creston

‘We had a lot of kids step up’: Hawkettes make adjustments, romp past Dowling

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After dropping six of its previous seven games, the Ankeny softball team needed to make some adjustments. The 13th-ranked Hawkettes responded on Wednesday with a 7-2 victory over visiting Dowling Catholic. "It was nice to get a 'W'," said Ankeny coach Sarah Saladino. "We've just gone back to work at practice and changed up a few things that we were … [Read more...] about ‘We had a lot of kids step up’: Hawkettes make adjustments, romp past Dowling