In the bottom of the 2nd inning up 1-0, Freshman Warhawk Lola Shriver hammered a 2-run home run over the head of Spartan left fielder Hailey Bieker putting the Warhawks up 3-0, which would be all they would need to win the Regional Finals and send the Spartans home.

 Kenneth Nicholas Blum, son of William and Laurina (Britten) Blum, was born on November 3, 1932, at his family farm near Westphalia, Iowa. He attended St. Bonaface Catholic Church where he was baptized and confirmed. He attended school up until the 8th grade at St. Bonaface and then worked on the family farm. On Feb 11, 1956, Kenny was united in marriage to Doris Kremer of Heggen Germany.

 Bernice Stessman Gaul, daughter of Alfred and Beatrice (Leuschen) Stessman was born on February 25, 1925 in Panama, Iowa.  She received her sacraments at St. Mary’s and attended school there as well. She attended college at Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas.On June 18, 1947, she was united in married to Gerry Gaul. They made their home on a farm just outside of Earling.

 William John “Bill” Stein was born on July 3, 1954, to Carl and Helen (Leinen) Stein in Portsmouth, Iowa. Known to all as “Bill”, he was the ninth child of the 14 children born to Carl and Helen. Bill grew up on the family farm. As a boy, he attended school at St.

Gailard Max Nelson, aged 93, passed away peacefully on June 5th in Colorado Springs, CO.

Lois Jean Hull was born on July 21,1946, to Harold & Mildred (Darnell) Hull in Harlan, IA. Lois made her home in Florida, dying peacefully on July 4th, 2023, at her daughter’s home in South Daytona Beach.Lois grew up on a farm outside of Jacksonville, IA, and attended Jackson #3 schoolhouse. When living on the farm she did her share of chores and could always be found driving the tractor during hay-making season.

In the bottom of the 1st inning with two outs, Spartan Junior Hannah Nelson launched a ball over the head of the left fielder plating two runs, putting the Spartans up 2-0. Nelson also hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 3rd inning en route to an eventual 3-2 victory.
“I knew I had to put the ball in play, so anything close I took a swing at it, and it worked in my favor,” Nelson said.

Senior Cyclone Stephen Leinen pitched six innings, throwing 101 pitches, striking out 12 batters Friday night in the 3A-8 First Round Tournament game en route to a 12-2 mercy rule victory over the Atlantic Trojans.

Adam Bendorf said he was super excited to be named the new head wrestling coach for Harlan Community High School.
“It’s something that I’ve always kind of joked about that if I had a second life to live, I’d be a preschool teacher and a high school wrestling coach,” Bendorf said.
Bendorf will be taking over for John Murtaugh who coached HCHS wrestling for 20 years.