HARLAN (July 11) -- The Harlan Community softball team’s first tournament win in four years was more of a nail-biter than expected, but well worth the wait and the drama. Trailing a five-win Perry team 2-0 and down to their last six outs, the Cyclones scored one run in the sixth and two in the seventh - capped by Morgan Schaben’s walk-off RBI single - to rally past the Jayettes 3-2 in a Class 4A first round regional game Thursday at H.

 AVOCA (July 13) -- A five-run first inning provided more than enough support for junior pitcher Clayton Akers here Saturday night as AHSTW opened the Class 1A district baseball tournament with an 8-0 quarterfinal victory over Fremont-Mills. Akers (4-3) pitched six scoreless innings in just 63 pitches, allowing five hits, walking none and striking out four.

 COON RAPIDS (July 13) -- Trailing 5-1 early on, the IKM-Manning baseball team rallied to keep its season alive here Saturday with a 7-6 win over Ar-We-Va in a Class 1A district quarterfinal. The game ended in bizarre fashion in the bottom of the seventh as the Rockets threatened to tie the score or win.

 HARLAN (July 12) -- Brett Sears homered and pitched five strong innings on Friday as the Harlan Community baseball team snapped a quick two-game losing skid with a 10-2 home win over Le Mars. Sears (7-1) allowed three hits and two runs (one earned) in his five-inning stint against the Bulldogs (12-15), striking out eight, walking one and hitting a batter.

 COUNCIL BLUFFS (July 11) -- The Harlan Community baseball team was unable to rally back from an early 7-1 deficit at St. Albert Thursday night and lost an 11-6 decision in both teams’ Hawkeye Ten Conference finale. HCHS finished 15-5 inside the conference, tying Glenwood for second place behind Lewis Central. St.

 HARLAN (July 9) -- Dallas Center-Grimes broke open a tie game with four runs in the top of the sixth and held off Harlan Community 7-5 in non-conference baseball action last Tuesday night. Trailing 7-2, HCHS rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh before the game ended on Derec Weyer’s hard line drive to shortstop with a runner on base. DC-G (21-10) was led by six-hole hitter Bryce Jermier, who belted a pair of home runs and finis

 DENISON (July 8) -- The way it all played out was vintage Brett Sears. In line for his record-breaking 34th career pitching win if the game ended early, the Harlan Community senior took matters into his own hands with a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the fifth inning Monday, giving HCHS a 12-1 mercy-rule win in the night cap of a doubleheader sweep at Denison-Schleswig. The fourth-ranked (3A) Cyclones also won the first game 14-0.

 DENISON (July 8) -- The Harlan Community softball team put the finishing touches on the regular season and a Hawkeye Ten championship Monday night with a doubleheader split at Denison-Schleswig. HCHS scored six runs in the top of the seventh to win game one 7-3 before Denison squeaked out a 7-6 victory in the night cap. The Cyclones, who won their first outright conference title since 2013 - they also shared the crown in 2014 - finished 18-2

 AVOCA (July 10) -- AHSTW pitcher Kailey Jones retired the side in order five times in seven innings and leadoff batter Katie Anzalone scored two runs Wednesday night to lead the Lady Vikes past Missouri Valley 3-2 in a Class 2A regional softball quarterfinal in Avoca. AHSTW had beaten Mo.

 OAKLAND (July 10) -- The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton softball team advanced to the regional semifinals earlier this week following Class 1A, Region 2 victories over Audubon and Riverside. The Spartans defeated Audubon 8-2 in a first round game in Kimballton Monday and also won at Riverside 7-3 on Wednesday night.

 IRWIN (July 10) -- IKM-Manning finished the softball season 10-16 overall following a 12-2 home win vs. Tri-Center Monday night and a 10-0 loss at fourth-ranked West Monona Wednesday in Class 2A regional play. Both games lasted five innings. The Wolves took full control of Monday’s first round game by scoring six runs in the bottom of the fourth.

 HARLAN (July 5) -- In a battle of future Central College softball teammates, Morgan Schaben outdueled Sydni Huisman Friday afternoon as Harlan Community beat sixth-ranked (3A) Treynor 2-1 at H.

 HARLAN -- The Harlan Community softball team will be looking for its first regional win since 2015 when its hosts Perry in a Class 4A, Region 2 first round game Thursday (July 11) at 5:00 p.m. The contest was originally slated for a 7:00 p.m.

 HARLAN (July 5) -- Just one out away from defeat - then one strike away from going to extra innings - the Harlan Community baseball team found a way to notch a quality non-conference win here Friday night with the help of a little good fortune. Trailing 7-5 after five, the Cyclones scored a run in the sixth on Jon Owens’ two-out RBI double and rallied for two in the seventh on a pair of run-scoring wild pitches to sneak past Des Moines Roosev

 HARLAN (July 3) -- The Harlan Community baseball and softball games vs. Tri-Center were suspended by heavy rain during the middle innings Wednesday afternoon and have been cancelled. HCHS led the baseball game 8-0 in the top of the fourth when play was halted. Senior Brett Sears was in line to break the school record with his 34th career win but will now have to wait until another day.