Base-running mistakes prove costly in Cyclone softball loss to Sioux City East

 HARLAN (June 26) -- Sioux City East snapped the Harlan Community softball team’s five-game winning streak last Wednesday night with a hard-fought 2-1 win over the Cyclones at H. Jack Field.
 Raider senior Chasity Johnson won a pitchers’ duel with HCHS senior Morgan Schaben, throwing a four-hitter with no walks and getting some timely help from her defense.
 East made at least three nice catches in the outfield, including a diving foul-ball grab by left fielder Josie Blake in the bottom of the seventh that resulted in a game-ending double play.
 With runners at first and third and one out, Jordan Heese’s sinking liner hooked into foul territory where it was caught on a dive by Blake. Courtesy runner Tyann Viereck tagged and scored from third to make it 2-1, but the Cyclone runner on first wandered all the way to second and was doubled off for the final out. HCHS lost three other base runners earlier in the game.
 Schaben allowed five hits and two earned runs, walked four and struck out 11.
 The Raiders’ number five and six hitters did all of the damage as Evie Larson and and Madison Hase finished a combined 5-for-5. Larson clubbed a solo home run to left in the second inning and hit a two-out fly ball in the fourth that was misplayed in left and fell for a double. Hase followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0.
 Schaben went 2-for-3 for the Cyclones, including a leadoff double in the seventh that set up the team’s only run.