NEOLA -- The most important meeting is still to come between the IKM-Manning and Missouri Valley softball teams, but Friday’s regular-season rubber match should certainly give the Wolves a confidence boost going into Class 2-A regional play. Showcasing an impressive mix of small ball and timely extra-base hits, IKM-M took an early 4-0 lead and added on four insurance runs in the fifth inning to beat the Lady Reds 8-2 in Friday’s Western Iowa

 NEOLA -- The Western Iowa Conference Softball Tournament semifinal between IKM-Manning and Treynor ended via forfeit Thursday night (June 29) when strong thunderstorms suspended play after three innings. IKM-M led 2-1 when the game was stopped and Treynor opted to forfeit rather than returning to Tri-Center Friday night.

 AUDUBON -- The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton softball team finished the regular season on Saturday (July 1) with a 14-1, four-inning win at Audubon and took an overall record of 14-10 into Monday’s Class 1-A regional opener vs. CAM. With a win on Monday, the Spartans will face either Glidden-Ralston or Audubon in Wednesday’s regional quarterfinal round (at Glidden, 5:30 p.m.).

 RED OAK -- The Harlan Community baseball team put the finishing touches on a Hawkeye Ten Conference championship late last week, sweeping Red Oak in a doubleheader that started Thursday and concluded on Saturday morning (July 1). HCHS defeated the Tigers 9-2 in game one and led 7-0 in game two when play was suspended by lightning after four innings.

 RED OAK -- The regular season ended on a down note for the Harlan Community softball team Thursday (June 29) when Red Oak’s Kamryn Buntrock hit a three-run walkoff homer in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Tigers past the Cyclones 8-5 in game two of a doubleheader. HCHS settled for a split of the twin bill after winning the first game 5-3 and will now have a week off before hosting Nevada in a first-round regional game Thursday, July 6,

 SIOUX CITY -- Trailing 8-2 after two innings, Harlan Community finished the game with 13 unanswered runs to win at Sioux City West, 15-8, last Wednesday (June 28). HCHS took the lead for good with a seven-run fifth inning, outhit West 14-7 and overcame five errors in the field to hand the Wolverines (10-18) their 12th straight loss. The relief pitching efforts of senior Jacob Croghan and freshman Connor Bruck shut down West’s bats and allowed

 HARLAN -- In a battle between two promising softball teams without a senior on either roster, Harlan Community fought back gamely but couldn’t catch a break in last Wednesday’s 11-7 home loss to Sioux City East. The game featured 23 total hits, seven errors and lasted well over two hours at H.

    RED OAK -- Services are pending for Sherry Sandbothe, 52, Red Oak, who died Sunday, July 9.    Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca is in charge of arrangements.  For updated service information, visit www.pauleyjones.com.

    EARLING -- Melvin Joseph Book, 94, Earling, died July 6 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan.    Services were held Monday, July 10 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary Our Lady of Fatima Church in Portsmouth with burial in the St.