High School Sports

All signs pointed to Fort Dodge Monday, as Spirit Lake squared off with Algona in the Class 3A regional softball final. The second-seeded Indians, coming off of back-to-back wins over intra-county rival Okoboji and familiar foe Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley — as well as a sixth straight Lakes Conference championship — were looking primed for a return trip to the state tournament...

After an up-and-down regular season, Spirit Lake displayed its grit Saturday afternoon in earning a victory over Emmetsburg in extras. The Indians and E-Hawks battled for nine innings, but a three-run final frame lifted Spirit Lake to an 8-5 victory in the opening round of Class 2A district baseball tournament play in Milford...

Cris Halbur was brilliant on the mound, pitching the Pioneers to a shutout win over Sibley-Ocheyedan in the opening round of the Class 2A district baseball tournament Saturday. The senior went the distance, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out seven in Okoboji's 6-0 win over the Generals...

Okoboji's softball season came to a close Wednesday evening, as the Pioneers fell 12-0 to Dickinson County rival Spirit Lake in the opening round of the Class 3A regional tournament. The Pioneers played to a 1-0 deficit through two innings, but the Indians pushed three across in the third and eight across in the fourth to end the night early...

Harris-Lake Park's season ended Saturday with a 9-0 loss to Newell-Fonda in the first round of the Class 1A district baseball tournament in Peterson. The Wolves snapped a nine-game losing streak earlier in the week with a win over South O'Brien in the regular season finale and got out to a good start against the Mustangs, but they just could not maintain momentum...

Spirit Lake and Bishop Heelan traded blows Monday evening. In the end, the Crusaders scored the knockout with a home run in the top half of the final frame, but the Indians — and coach Ross Ackerman — left the game encouraged about their chances in the postseason...

Harris-Lake Park came up just short Wednesday afternoon, as the Wolves dropped a home contest to Clay Central-Everly. The Wolves fell 4-2 to the Mavericks in War Eagle Conference softball action. "Tonight, the difference in the game came down to errors," Harris-Lake Park coach Ashley Delaney said. "CC-E played very clean defensively and, unfortunately, our four errors ended up being costly for us. ...

Harris-Lake Park faced an uphill battle Wednesday afternoon, as the Wolves squared off with 10th-ranked (2A) Estherville Lincoln Central in a non-conference baseball battle. In the end, the Midgets were just too much for the struggling Wolves, who extended their current losing streak to nine games with a 13-0 loss in five innings...

Okoboji plated a pair of runs in the opening frame to take an early lead over Central Lyon in a Siouxland Conference baseball battle Monday, but the Lions bounced back in the middle innings to down the Pioneers 4-2 in Milford. "We got out to a great start with three hits and two runs in the first," Okoboji coach Rory Marra said. "After that, we got guys on base but couldn't get that big hit when needed. ...

A four-run fourth inning proved to be the difference Tuesday evening in Milford, as Sioux Center topped Okoboji 5-1 in Siouxland Conference baseball action. After two scoreless innings, the Warriors gained a lead by plating one in the top half of the third. The visitors plated four in the fourth to make it a five-run lead and held the Pioneers to just one run in the bottom half of the fifth...

Okoboji's home contest with fourth-ranked (1A) Newell-Fonda came to a swift conclusion Tuesday, as the Pioneers fell 12-0 to the Mustangs in three innings of play. Newell-Fonda plated three in the first, six in the second and three in the third while holding the Pioneers to just two hits...

The Harris-Lake Park softball team's season came to an end Monday evening, as the Wolves fell 6-2 to MMCRU in the opening round of the Class 1A regional tournament in Cleghorn. "We ended our season in Cleghorn in a well-played game," Harris-Lake Park coach Ashley Delaney said. "I think the biggest difference in the outcome of this game was the number of hits. ...

A win is always welcome, but this latest win came at the most opportune time for Harris-Lake Park, as the Wolves snapped a nine-game losing streak with a victory over South O'Brien in the regular season finale Tuesday. The Wolves downed the Wolverines 4-2 in Lake Park in War Eagle Conference baseball action...

Make it a six-peat. Despite struggling early, the Spirit Lake softball team plated six runs in extra innings to seal a sixth consecutive Lakes Conference crown Wednesday. The Indians topped the Midgets 10-5 in Estherville. "We know that ELC is going to play us tough every year," Spirit Lake coach Rachel Fisher said. "Our girls had the right mentality going into the game but, unfortunately, made some uncharacteristic errors early in the game ... ...

Spirit Lake snapped a three-game skid with a Lakes Conference win over Storm Lake on Friday. The Indians topped the Tornadoes 5-4 in Spirit Lake. "This was the type of game that we needed in order to just have fun playing baseball again," Spirit Lake coach Ross Ackerman said. ...

After suffering a 10-0 loss to Gehlen Catholic, snapping a three-game winning streak, Harris-Lake Park bounced back quickly with a five-run win over Trinity Christian in Lake Park. The Wolves topped the Tigers 6-1 Friday in War Eagle Conference softball action...

Harris-Lake Park extended its losing streak to seven games Friday with a 12-run loss to Trinity Christian. The Wolves fell 14-2 to the Tigers in Lake Park. Trinity Christian jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a trio of runs in the top half of the opening frame...

Two nights after clinching a sixth consecutive Lakes Conference crown, the Spirit Lake softball team capped its conference slate with a win over Storm Lake. The Indians topped the Tornadoes 8-6 on senior night in Spirit Lake. "Tonight was a very fun night as we celebrated our one and only senior, Payton Ahrenstorff," Spirit Lake coach Rachel Fisher said. "It was a lot of fun to recognize her because she has been an outstanding player for us the last three years. ...

Spirit Lake battled for two scoreless innings Wednesday, but the Indians couldn't hold 10th-ranked (2A) Estherville Lincoln Central down forever, as the Midgets eventually pulled away for a decisive home victory. ELC defeated Spirit Lake 10-0 in Lakes Conference baseball action...

Spirit Lake pounded Western Christian to the tune of 15 runs on 18 hits — including three home runs — Wednesday in a six-run home victory. The 15th-ranked (3A) Indians topped the Wolfpack 15-9 in Spirit Lake. "Our offensive definitely showed up to play tonight versus Western Christian," Spirit Lake coach Rachel Fisher said. ...

Spirit Lake ace Lawton Kramer pitched the Indians to a shutout victory over Western Christian on Wednesday. Kramer went the distance, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out nine in a 4-0 Spirit Lake home victory over the Wolfpack, snapping the Indians' five-game losing streak...

The Harris-Lake Park softball team took an early lead thanks in large part to a no-doubt home run by Bri Ihnen, but the Wolves surrendered 10 runs in two innings of a 12-7 home loss to Unity Christian on Thursday. "We struggled to make plays defensively," Harris-Lake Park coach Ashley Delaney said. ...

Okoboji held what seemed like a comfortable lead heading into the final two innings Friday night in Milford. However, Sibley-Ocheyedan erupted for seven runs in the sixth inning to pull ahead for a 10-8 Siouxland Conference win in Milford. "This one was a tough one to swallow because of all the defensive mistakes we had," Okoboji coach Rory Marra said. "Give them credit for taking advantage of our mistakes."...

Two huge innings were the difference Wednesday night, as 14th-ranked (1A) South O'Brien crushed Harris-Lake Park 18-0 in Lake Park. The Wolverines scored 17 of their 18 runs in the fourth and sixth innings combined. "South O'Brien is a good team that hits the ball hard," Harris-Lake Park coach Ashley Delaney said. "They put a lot of pressure on us by putting the ball in play time and time again. ...

Okoboji plated five runs in the third inning of a 6-1 non-conference home win over Pocahontas Area on Tuesday, June 18. "The girls came in excited to play," Okoboji coach Bailey DeBolt said. "We were able to execute at the plate and in the field, and I couldn't be more proud of them."...

Harris-Lake Park stretched its win streak to three games with a 6-4 home win over Sibley-Ocheyedan on Tuesday. The Wolves plated three runs late to down the Generals in non-conference softball action. Sibley-Ocheyedan jumped out to an early lead with a pair of runs in the top half of the opening frame, but the Wolves gained a one-run advantage with three in the bottom half of the first...

Sibley-Ocheyedan erupted for 17 runs in just three innings in a dominant road win over Harris-Lake Park on Tuesday. The Generals outscored the Wolves 18-3 in Lake Park. The two squads were knotted at 1-1 after two innings, but Sibley-Ocheyedan plated four in the third, nine in the fourth and four in the fifth while holding Harris-Lake Park to just two runs the rest of the way...

The Okoboji softball team suffered a 12-0 home loss to Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley on Tuesday. The Nighthawks scored three in the first, four in the second, one in the fifth and four in the sixth while holding the Pioneers to just two hits. Mackenzie Vos collected both hits for Okoboji. The senior was 2-3...

Behind a solid pitching performance by Tyler Adams and a third-inning offensive explosion, the Okoboji baseball team blanked North Union on Thursday evening. The Pioneers defeated the Warriors 15-0 in four innings of non-conference baseball action in Milford...

After suffering a disappointing loss to Estherville Lincoln Central on Monday, 15th-ranked (3A) Spirit Lake capped the week with a third straight win, topping Spencer 6-2 Friday in Lakes Conference softball action. The Indians fell behind early after a first-inning home run by Spencer's Emma VerSteeg, but bounced back by scoring one in the second, three in the third and two in the fourth while holding the hosts to one run the rest of the way...

A four-run fifth inning was all the offense Okoboji needed Friday evening, as the Pioneers topped George-Little Rock in Siouxland Conference softball action. The Pioneers defeated the Mustangs 4-1 in Milford. The victory came on the heels of back-to-back one-run losses to Sioux Center and Manson-Northwest Webster the previous two days...

Harris-Lake Park took an early lead but was forced to come-from-behind late in a walk-off win over Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn on Wednesday. The Wolves topped the Hawks 6-5 in Lake Park. "The guys did a great job tonight," Harris-Lake Park coach Lane Gunderson said. "We got off to a good start and then fell behind but kept playing well and found a way to win in the bottom of the seventh."...

Okoboji's offense was undeniable Friday evening in a Siouxland Conference showdown with George-Little Rock. The Pioneers pounded out 10 hits in a 10-3 home win over the Mustangs. "This was the best offensive game in terms of making solid contact that we have had in quite some time," Okoboji coach Rory Marra said. "We need to understand that putting the ball in play consistently is what we need to do. Jacob Allen threw a pretty solid game for us. He's a guy that pitches to contact and we have to be good behind him defensively. He did strike out nine tonight and we made the plays we needed to make. We absolutely want to keep putting the pressure on the opponent's pitcher and defense by being aggressive on the bases.". ...

Spirit Lake has suffered a slump at the midway point of the 2019 baseball season. That slump continued Friday, as Spencer sent the Indians to their fifth consecutive loss with a 13-4 defeat in Spirit Lake. Spirit Lake struggled out of the gates, as Spencer plated four in each of the first two frames before pushing an additional run across in the third to take a 9-0 lead...

Spirit Lake bounced back from an upset loss to Estherville Lincoln Central on Monday with a convincing road win over Lakes Conference rival Storm Lake on Wednesday. The 15th-ranked Indians topped the Tornadoes 12-3 in Storm Lake. "We knew going into the game that Storm Lake was a tough team," Spirit Lake coach Rachel Fisher, who earned career win No. ...

Harris-Lake Park lost a barnburner Wednesday, as the Wolves fell 20-11 to Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn in War Eagle Conference softball action. The Wolves took an early lead with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the opening frame, but a six-run second put HMS out front...

Spirit Lake dropped a Lakes Conference road trip to Storm Lake on Wednesday. The Indians fell 6-2 to the Tornadoes. Spirit Lake took an early lead with a run in the top half of the opening frame, but the Tornadoes responded with two runs in each of the first three innings, taking a 6-1 lead...

Spirit Lake softball coach Rachel Fisher picked up her 200th career win Wednesday, as the Indians topped Storm Lake 12-3 in a Lakes Conference clash in Storm Lake. Fisher is in her eighth season at the Indians' helm. The former Spirit Lake and University of Northern Iowa athlete, and 2013 IGHSAU Softball Hall of Fame inductee, has coached the Indians to five consecutive Lakes Conference championships and a pair of state tournament appearances. ...

The Harris-Lake Park baseball team suffered a 4-1 loss to Akron-Westfield on Monday. The Wolves held an early lead after scoring a run in the bottom half of the first inning. The Westerners responded with a run in the second, one more in the fifth and two in the top half of the seventh while holding Harris-Lake Park scoreless the rest of the way to seal the three-run victory...

The Harris-Lake Park softball team held an early lead Monday, but the Wolves could not hang with eighth-ranked (1A) Akron-Westfield, as the Westerners pulled away for a 15-5 win. The Wolves scored one run in the bottom half of the opening frame and led 1-0 through two. The Westerners responded with two runs in the third before plating eight in the fourth to pull ahead 10-1...