TREYNOR -- The final score was a bit misleading, but there is no questioning the champion of the Western Iowa Conference Softball Tournament. Top-ranked (2-A) Logan-Magnolia was its typical sound and steady self during Thursday night’s WIC Tourney title game at Treynor, producing key two-out hits and playing error-free defense behind ace pitcher Abby Straight to blank 11th-ranked IKM-Manning 8-0 and defend its crown. The Panthers (27-2 overal

 TREYNOR -- Led by Abbey Youngren’s six-RBI game, the top third of IKM-Manning’s lineup put together a monster performance Thursday as the Wolves handled Treynor 12-2 in a Western Iowa Conference Softball Tournament semifinal shortened to five innings. IKM-M scored five runs in the second inning and four in the third to build a commanding 10-0 lead, finishing the game with 13 hits and taking advantage of five Cardinal errors. Paige Gaskill (3-

 CARROLL -- Harlan Community finished seventh in the final Hawkeye Ten Conference softball standings following Friday night’s 4-2 loss at Kuemper Catholic. The Cyclones didn’t crack the scoreboard until a two-run seventh-inning rally brought them only halfway back. Logan Schaben, Allison Bruck and Morgan Schaben all singled twice as HCHS outhit the Knights 8-5 in defeat. 

 AREA -- AHSTW and Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton will host regional games Tuesday and IKM-Manning will open its postseason at home Wednesday night as softball tournament play swings into full gear this week across the state. Pairings for the Lady Vikes, Spartans and Wolves are listed below.

 MANILLA -- A late-game rally fell four runs short for AHSTW Friday night as Audubon held off the Vikings 14-10 in the third-place final of the Western Iowa Conference Baseball Tournament at Manilla. Missouri Valley repeated as WIC Tourney champion later in the evening, taking down top-seeded Treynor 12-0 (five innings) in the title game. Down 13-4 and nearly beaten by the 10-run rule after five innings, the Vikings showed no quit down to the

 HARLAN -- The Harlan Community baseball team clinched second place in the Hawkeye Ten Conference standings Thursday night with a doubleheader sweep of Red Oak at Jim Goeser Field, winning 16-6 in six innings and 17-2 in four. The third-ranked (3-A) Cyclones improved to 19-4 overall and 16-3 in the H-10 with one league game remaining. Lewis Central (18-0) has already secured the conference title going into Thursday’s doubleheader at Creston.

 ELK HORN -- Ar-We-Va’s Zack Kraus outdueled Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton’s Alex Amaral Friday night as the Rockets edged the Spartans 2-1 to complete a season sweep.

 MISSOURI VALLEY -- Connor Lange’s squeeze bunt scored Justin Miller with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth last Monday as Missouri Valley edged IKM-Manning 2-1 in a Western Iowa Conference Baseball Tournament quarterfinal game. The Big Reds went on to claim the tournament title for the second straight year, winning their next two games by a combined 27-1.

 AREA -- Ethan Knudson was named first-team All-Hawkeye Ten and four Harlan Community teammates were also recognized on the all-conference boys soccer teams announced in June. Hawkeye Ten co-champs Denison-Schleswig and Glenwood, along with Class 1-A state runner-up Kuemper Catholic, paced the all-conference list with three first-team selections each. In addition to Knudson, Cyclone honorees included Caleb Brace and Drew Voge on the second tea

 AREA -- Harlan Community junior Haley Arkfeld was named first-team All-Hawkeye Ten while senior teammates Mercedee Mayberry and Lexi Hoffmann both received honorable mention on the all-conference girls soccer teams released last month. Class 2-A state champion Lewis Central led the eight-team league with five first-team selections, followed by 1-A state qualifier St. Albert with three.

 HARLAN -- The Harlan Community softball team split a doubleheader with Red Oak at H. Jack Field Thursday night, bouncing back from an 8-4 loss in game one to win the night cap 5-2. Senior shortstop Logan Schaben had an outstanding overall night for HCHS, going 4-for-7 with her ninth and 10th home runs of the year - one in each game - as well as a triple and a double.

 HARLAN -- Hitting in tough luck for nearly six innings, the Harlan Community baseball team mustered up just enough late offense to back a solid pitching performance from Brett Croghan Tuesday night and beat St. Albert, 2-0, at Jim Goeser Field. The Cyclones’ two-run sixth was more than enough support for Croghan (4-2), who pitched a four-hit shutout and struck out 10 to outduel St. Albert’s Brandon Williams for the second time this year.

 HARLAN -- Members of the Harlan Community baseball and softball teams joined together to send a message to Cyclone Activities Director Mitch Osborn as part of this week’s “Green Out” for cancer awareness. Osborn, who continues his battle with cancer, was presented with a poster of the above photo by the Cyclone seniors prior to Tuesday’s home games vs. St. Albert.

 HARLAN -- Approximately $3,000 was raised for the Shelby County Relay for Life through the efforts of Harlan Community’s annual Green Out Night, held in conjunction with Tuesday’s HCHS vs. St. Albert baseball and softball games. The event was hosted by this year’s six senior players - Nolan Heese, Kyle Juhl, Brett Croghan, Logan Schaben, Emily Juhl and Julia Sorfonden.

 HARLAN -- With the end of the regular season looming closer, the Harlan Community softball team is still searching for a level of defensive consistency that will keep them competitive on a nightly basis. One of the Cyclones’ biggest downfalls all summer - defensive miscues - reared its ugly head again Tuesday as HCHS committed 10 errors in a 13-8 home loss to St.