IRWIN -- Just three outs removed from tying Logan-Magnolia for a possible Western Iowa Conference regular season softball title, IKM-Manning did everything but finish in Thursday’s latest clash between southwest Iowa powers. Building leads of 4-1 after four and 6-3 after five, the Wolves still led 6-5 in the seventh before Lo-Ma put together a three-run inning, capped by Kenzie Cunard’s two-run homer, and left Irwin with an 8-6 victory. The 1

 MANILLA -- The IKM-Manning baseball team was held to four hits by Audubon pitcher Josh Lange Friday night (June 23) in a 6-1 home loss to the Wheelers. Both teams wrapped up Western Iowa Conference regular season play on the night, with IKM-M finishing seventh in the standings with a WIC record of 9-9 (10-10 overall).

 MANILLA -- A five-run rally in the bottom of the sixth lifted IKM-Manning past Logan-Magnolia 7-3 Thursday night (June 22) as the Wolves earned a sweep of the season series. Jared Johnson had a huge game at the plate for IKM-M, going 4-for-4 with a grand slam home run, six runs-batted-in and three stolen bases. Nick Halbur went 3-for-3 and Chris Monson was 2-for-3, each scoring a run.

 ANITA -- In a matchup of two top-10 baseball teams in Class 1-A, sixth-ranked Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton got a five-hit complete game from senior Alex Amaral and stayed undefeated Friday night (June 23) with a 6-2 win at ninth-ranked CAM, completing a season sweep of the Cougars. The Spartans improved to 17-0 overall and 12-0 inside the Rolling Valley Conference, maintaining sole possession of first place in the league standings with two leagu

 AVOCA -- The AHSTW baseball team stole 14 bases and got an excellent outing on the mound from Blake Osbahr Friday night (June 23) to beat Logan-Magnolia 6-1. The Vikings improved to 13-7 overall and finished 11-7 in Western Iowa Conference play, tying Audubon for fourth place in the regular season standings. AHSTW scored single runs in each of the first six innings against the Panthers to gradually pull away.

 SIOUX CITY -- Harlan Community’s unbeaten start to 2017 and its 24-game winning streak overall came to an end last Wednesday (June 21) as Sioux City East split a doubleheader with the Cyclone baseball team. The Black Raiders won 4-2 in game one before HCHS took the night cap 12-4 in a game shortened to six innings. The loss was Harlan’s first since a 6-3 setback vs. Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson in last year’s regular-season finale.

 COUNCIL BLUFFS -- Down to its last out - then its final strike - the Harlan Community baseball team found a way to stay unbeaten one more time Tuesday night at Lewis Central. Trailing 6-5 in the top of the seventh, HCHS senior Joshua Cheek drew a two-out walk and stole second base - on a bang-bang play - with Nick Foss at the plate.

 HARLAN -- Wednesday night was just what the doctor ordered for a Harlan Community softball team staggering a bit from the stress of a nine-game losing streak over eight days. Starting seven eighth-graders in the field - only one more than usual - the Cyclones increased their run production in each inning and got a three-hitter from Emily Brouse to trounce Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln 12-1 in five innings at H.

 DENISON -- Kyle Schmitz pitched three hitless innings for his fourth win and later belted a three-run homer, leading Harlan Community to a 12-0, six-inning baseball win at Denison-Schleswig Monday night (June 19) and a season sweep of the Monarchs. Schmitz (4-0) allowed just three base runners in his 35-pitch stint, issuing a walk in the second inning and hitting two batters in the third.

 COUNCIL BLUFFS -- The Harlan Community softball team lost its ninth consecutive game on Tuesday night (June 20), falling 9-1 at Council Bluffs Lewis Central. The Titans (20-7-1 overall) took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on Ashtyn Miller’s RBI single and Alea Binkley’s RBI double.

 AVOCA -- The AHSTW softball team rallied back to tie the score twice against Underwood Monday night (June 19) but couldn’t put the brakes on the Eagle offense in a 7-3 home loss.

 AVOCA -- AHSTW put runners on base in nearly every inning but couldn’t push anyone across home plate Monday night (June 19), losing to Underwood 7-0 in Western Iowa Conference baseball action. The Eagles set the tone with three runs in the top of the first and added insurance in the middle innings to earn a split in the season series, improving to 10-5 overall and 10-4 in the WIC. The Vikings (10-6 overall, 8-6 WIC) matched the Eagles with ei

Denison-Schleswig 9, HCHS 2 DENISON -- Denison-Schleswig used a three-run first and a four-run fifth to down Harlan Community 9-2 Monday night (June 19) and complete a regular-season softball sweep. Anna Ahrenholtz and Molly Gubbels both doubled and singled to lead HCHS, with Ahrenholtz scoring one run and driving in another.