TOPEKA, KAN. -- The Cyclone Pride 13U C Division traveling softball team put together an overall record of 25-11 this season, capped by a ‘Top 8’ finish at the USSSA National Tournament (Midwest Region) in Topeka, Kansas, July 20-23.

 HARLAN -- The Harlan Community freshmen baseball team finished the 2016 season with an overall record of 12-13 under the direction of Coach Brian James.

 HARLAN -- It was a season to remember for the 2016 Harlan Community baseball team. One year after falling just one win short of a state title, the Cyclones made their sixth consecutive trip to Principal Park in late July and left as Class 3-A state champions following a decisive 12-4 win over Carlisle.

 HARLAN -- The Harlan Community volleyball team opened practices for the 2016 season on Monday morning, sporting a roster of 32 players in grades 9-12. HCHS graduated three all-state players off last year’s 37-6, Class 4-A state runner-up squad in Taylor Frederick (Elite First Team), Jordyn Moser (Second Team) and Jessica DuVal (Second Team), but returns a pair of all-conference selections in Sidney Craig (Second Team) and Brenda Hopkins (Hono

 HARLAN -- A total of 61 runners in grades 7-12 attended this week’s Harlan Community Cyclone Cross Country Camp, under the direction of HCHS head coach Doug Renkly. The Cyclone harriers took part in various workout drills throughout the five-day camp, which will end with Friday’s timed race at Prairie Rose State Park.

 AREA -- A Hunter Safety Education Online Field Day will be held Saturday, Sept. 3, from 8:00 a.m. to noon at the Nishna Bend Recreation Area south of Corley. Prospective hunters must register for this field day online at iowadnr.gov/huntered and complete the online class before attending.

 PORTSMOUTH -- Persia outlasted Portsmouth in an old-fashioned slugfest, 14-13, in the championship game of the Iowa Western Baseball League Tournament held July 31 at the Portsmouth diamond. Only five half-innings did not feature at least one run scored as the teams combined for 27 runs, 38 hits, 10 errors and 32 men left on base.
 

 AREA -- The 2016 Hawkeye Ten, Western Iowa and Rolling Valley all-conference baseball and softball teams include 15 first-teamers and 45 total players from the Harlan Newspapers’ four-school coverage area. This year’s local squads combined for a total record of 133-87 (.605), led by the Harlan Community baseball team’s 30-5 overall mark and Class 3-A state championship.

 HARLAN -- Setting the stage for the first day of high school football practice on Monday, August 8, Harlan Community held its annual Cyclone Camp of Champions last week (Aug. 1-5) at Merrill Field. According to HCHS head coach Curt Bladt, 85-90 players attended this year’s high school camp, including 23 incoming freshmen.

 HARLAN -- Five Harlan Community boys soccer players were recognized earlier this summer on the 2016 Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association Academic All-State teams. The list includes three first-teamers on the Class 2-A boys squad - Ethan Knudson, Drew Voge and Alan Holloway - and two honorable mention selections - Alex Assmann and Wren Koch. 

 WEST DES MOINES -- Harlan Community’s Ethan Knudson, a 2016 graduate, scored a header goal for the winning team as the West defeated the East 4-1 in Iowa’s East-West All-Star Cup soccer match, held June 18 at Valley Stadium. Knudson’s goal was assisted by Atlantic’s Ryan Hawkins on a throw-in. David Thomsen of Atlantic scored two goals for the West and Underwood’s Jake Dotterer had the other.

 WAUKEE -- Harlan Community’s Logan Schaben officially capped her high school softball career on Monday, July 25, participating in the 31st annual Iowa Girls Coaches Association Senior All-Star games at Waukee. Schaben played for the Blue Team, which lost its two games vs. the Red and White squads. She finished 0-for-3 with three walks during the event, playing her usual solid defense at shortstop.

 DES MOINES -- With team success comes individual plaudits. On Tuesday, four players from the state champion Harlan Community Cyclones were recognized on the Iowa Newspaper Association’s 2016 All-State Baseball teams. HCHS junior Dillon Sears (infield) and senior Kyle Juhl (utility) were both selected to the Class 3-A first team, senior Brett Croghan was named second-team utility and junior Josh Cheek earned third-team utility status. Croghan

 STATE -- Highlighted by a pair of first-team selections, six area softball players have been recognized on the 2016 Iowa Girls Coaches Association All-State Softball teams, released July 28. Harlan Community senior Logan Schaben (Class 4-A) and IKM-Manning senior Abbey Youngren (Class 2-A) were both named to the first team after putting together monster seasons at the plate.

 DES MOINES -- It’s time for one last tip of the hat to the 2016 Harlan Community baseball team - Class 3-A champions at last week’s state tournament. One year after losing to Waverly-Shell Rock, 11-1, in the state title game, this year’s Cyclones charged back to Principal Park and saved their best performance for last.