HARLAN -- The Harlan Community baseball team clinched second place in the Hawkeye Ten Conference standings Thursday night with a doubleheader sweep of Red Oak at Jim Goeser Field, winning 16-6 in six innings and 17-2 in four. The third-ranked (3-A) Cyclones improved to 19-4 overall and 16-3 in the H-10 with one league game remaining. Lewis Central (18-0) has already secured the conference title going into Thursday’s doubleheader at Creston.

 ELK HORN -- Ar-We-Va’s Zack Kraus outdueled Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton’s Alex Amaral Friday night as the Rockets edged the Spartans 2-1 to complete a season sweep.

 MISSOURI VALLEY -- Connor Lange’s squeeze bunt scored Justin Miller with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth last Monday as Missouri Valley edged IKM-Manning 2-1 in a Western Iowa Conference Baseball Tournament quarterfinal game. The Big Reds went on to claim the tournament title for the second straight year, winning their next two games by a combined 27-1.

 AREA -- Ethan Knudson was named first-team All-Hawkeye Ten and four Harlan Community teammates were also recognized on the all-conference boys soccer teams announced in June. Hawkeye Ten co-champs Denison-Schleswig and Glenwood, along with Class 1-A state runner-up Kuemper Catholic, paced the all-conference list with three first-team selections each. In addition to Knudson, Cyclone honorees included Caleb Brace and Drew Voge on the second tea

 AREA -- Harlan Community junior Haley Arkfeld was named first-team All-Hawkeye Ten while senior teammates Mercedee Mayberry and Lexi Hoffmann both received honorable mention on the all-conference girls soccer teams released last month. Class 2-A state champion Lewis Central led the eight-team league with five first-team selections, followed by 1-A state qualifier St. Albert with three.

 HARLAN -- The Harlan Community softball team split a doubleheader with Red Oak at H. Jack Field Thursday night, bouncing back from an 8-4 loss in game one to win the night cap 5-2. Senior shortstop Logan Schaben had an outstanding overall night for HCHS, going 4-for-7 with her ninth and 10th home runs of the year - one in each game - as well as a triple and a double.

 HARLAN -- Hitting in tough luck for nearly six innings, the Harlan Community baseball team mustered up just enough late offense to back a solid pitching performance from Brett Croghan Tuesday night and beat St. Albert, 2-0, at Jim Goeser Field. The Cyclones’ two-run sixth was more than enough support for Croghan (4-2), who pitched a four-hit shutout and struck out 10 to outduel St. Albert’s Brandon Williams for the second time this year.

 HARLAN -- Members of the Harlan Community baseball and softball teams joined together to send a message to Cyclone Activities Director Mitch Osborn as part of this week’s “Green Out” for cancer awareness. Osborn, who continues his battle with cancer, was presented with a poster of the above photo by the Cyclone seniors prior to Tuesday’s home games vs. St. Albert.

 HARLAN -- Approximately $3,000 was raised for the Shelby County Relay for Life through the efforts of Harlan Community’s annual Green Out Night, held in conjunction with Tuesday’s HCHS vs. St. Albert baseball and softball games. The event was hosted by this year’s six senior players - Nolan Heese, Kyle Juhl, Brett Croghan, Logan Schaben, Emily Juhl and Julia Sorfonden.