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.