EARLHAM -- The Earlham softball team hit three home runs and gradually pulled away from AHSTW over the last five innings Wednesday night, ending the Lady Vikes’ season, 17-4, in a Class 2-A, Region 8 quarterfinal. AHSTW scored all four of its runs in the bottom of the third, pulling within 6-4 as seniors Jayna Olesen and Taylor Madden both hit RBI singles and junior Haley Constable added a two-run double.

 IRWIN -- Led by a big night from the “Smash Sisters” combo of Abbey Youngren and Vanessa Freese, the IKM-Manning softball team took care of business in Wednesday’s postseason opener, beating Sioux Central 12-4 in a Class 2-A, Region 2 quarterfinal at Irwin. Youngren and Freese combined for seven hits and six RBI, including Youngren’s 12th home run of the year in the fifth inning and Freese’s sixth homer in the second. “The Smash Sisters got i

 KIMBALLTON -- Maggie Rasmussen pitched a one-hit shutout and Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton’s bats came alive in the late innings Wednesday night as the Spartans advanced in tournament softball action with a 10-0 Class 1-A regional quarterfinal win over CAM. One day after beating Adair-Casey 11-1 in first-round action, Exira-EHK (19-6) handled another conference rival for the third time this year to set up a Region 7 semifinal at 10th-ranked River

 KIMBALLTON -- The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton softball team didn’t waste any time taking control of Tuesday’s Class 1-A regional opener vs. Adair-Casey, scoring six first-inning runs en route to an 11-1, six-inning victory. The Spartans sent 10 batters to the plate and notched six hits during their big first inning, later adding a three-run fifth for good measure.

 DALLAS CENTER -- All in all, it was a good 62nd birthday for Harlan Community baseball coach Steve Daeges. Daeges’s Cyclones improved to 21-4 on Wednesday night with a 4-2 road win over Dallas Center-Grimes, and it just happened to be the 600th career victory for the Cyclone head coach. Now in his 23rd season on the job, Daeges improved to 600-205 with HCHS.

 CLARINDA -- The Harlan Community baseball team wrapped up a 17-3 season in Hawkeye Ten Conference action and also notched their 20th victory overall Tuesday night, posting a 10-3 win at Clarinda. Kyle Juhl (4) and Josh Cheek (3) combined for seven RBI in the game and four Cyclone pitchers combined on a four-hitter. HCHS led 6-3 after six innings before pulling away behind a four-run seventh and improving to 20-4 overall.

 SIOUX CITY -- Clinging to a late 2-1 lead, the Harlan Community softball team surrendered eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and lost Tuesday’s regular-season finale, 9-2, at Sioux City East. The Cyclones took a 13-22 overall record into Thursday night’s Class 4-A regional quarterfinal at 14th-ranked Glenwood (20-12), with hopes of advancing to Saturday night’s regional semifinal at Lewis Central (30-5). Tuesday’s loss was the eight

 CARROLL -- Portsmouth native and current University of North Texas golfer Ross Martens won the championship flight of the Carroll Amateur Golf Championship last month, holding off Matthew Walker (Ottumwa, University of Iowa) by one stroke over 54 holes. Competing in the June 11-12 event for the first time at the Carroll Country Club, the 20-year-old Martens shot a six-under-par 65 on Saturday, followed by rounds of 71 and 66 Sunday for an 11-

    HARLAN -- Jerry Kloewer of Harlan will celebrate his 90th birthday on July 29. His family is planning a card shower in his honor. Cards will reach him if sent to 3009 Ridgeway Drive #115, Harlan, IA 51537.    Jerry and his wife, Pauline have been married for 62 years.