HCHS softball team thumps TJ in final postseason tune-up

 HARLAN (July 13) -- The Harlan Community softball team completed its regular season on a good note here Monday night, bashing 13 hits and using two big innings to win 9-2 over Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson.
 Listed 14th in the final Class 4A rankings of the year, the Cyclones (14-4) will now have four days off to prepare for Saturday’s regional semifinal in Harlan against either Glenwood (8-5) or Lewis Central (11-7). If HCHS can win that game, it will likely face top-ranked Carlisle (16-3) in the Region 4 final July 21.
 “We are spending our time this week touching base on some of the basics,” stated HCHS head coach Toshia Kasperbauer. “We want to go hard at practices and make them worthwhile, but also make sure we are fresh and ready to go Saturday."
 The Cyclones took command against TJ with a five-run third inning. Madison Schumacher got things going with a two-run double while Tianna Kasperbauer and Kennedy Kjergaard hit RBI singles.
 Abbie Schechinger had a pinch-hit RBI single in the fifth for HCHS and Kjergaard highlighted a three-run sixth with a two-run single, finishing her night 3-for-3 with three RBI.
 Kasperbauer also singled three times, scored three runs and drove in a pair. Kate Heithoff and Emily Brouse (one double) both went 2-for-4.
 Brouse and Kasperbauer pitched a combined five-hitter vs. the Yellow Jackets, who dropped to 2-19.

Class 4A, Region 4 Softball Tourney
First Round Pairings: Thursday, July 16
Pella (3-15) at Knoxville (9-4), 7:00 p.m.
Lewis Central (11-7) at Glenwood (8-5), 7:00 p.m.
Regional Semifinals: Saturday, July 18
Knoxville or Pella at #1 Carlisle (16-3), 7:00 p.m.
Glenwood or Lewis Central at #14 Harlan Community (14-4), 7:00 p.m.
Regional Final: Tuesday, July 21 (Site TBD), 7:00 p.m.