HCHS softball settles for wild split vs. Cards

 HARLAN -- The first 12 games of the season have certainly been a “Jekyll and Hyde” roller coaster ride for the Harlan Community softball team, perhaps summed up best by Thursday’s doubleheader split with Clarinda. After easily defeating the Cardinals in three innings, 12-0, in game one, HCHS took an early 6-2 lead in the night cap but struggled the rest of the way in a frustrating 15-14 eight-inning loss. The Cyclones, who have basically alternated wins and losses all season, missed a chance at their first three-game winning streak and settled back to the .500 mark at 6-6 overall and 4-4 in the Hawkeye Ten Conference. Clarinda, which came alive for 19 hits in game two while also aided by 10 Cyclone errors, improved to 2-12 overall and 1-7 in league play. The individual highlight of the twin bill was turned in by HCHS senior Logan Schaben, who surpassed Chelsea Cave’s school record with her 21st and 22nd career home runs, hitting one in each game. She finished 5-for-7 on the night with two doubles, two homers, four runs and five RBI. 
HCHS 12, Clarinda 0 (3) The Cyclones completely dominated game one with the Cardinals, scoring eight two-out runs on nine hits in the first inning and ending the contest after three, 12-0. Harlan’s 13 total hits included four doubles and two home runs. Brenda Hopkins’ three-run bomb made it 4-0 and Schaben’s record-breaking, two-run shot capped the first-inning outburst as eight consecutive batters reached safely during one stretch. 
Clarinda 15, HCHS 14 (8) Schaben opened game two with another home run and the Cyclones led 6-2 after four innings, even pinch-hitting for their top three batters the third time through the lineup. But things all started to go south in the top of the fifth when Clarinda tied the game with four runs off Cyclone pitcher Alyssa Sotelo, who relieved Hayley Hopkins to start the fourth.