Sports briefs

Harlan wins

DES MOINES — The second-seeded Harlan Cyclones took care of business Tuesday night at Principal Park, rolling over the seventh-seeded Oskaloosa Indians 6-0 in the final Class 3A state quarterfinal game.

The Cyclones needed just seven hits, as Indian pitchers waked or hit eight Harlan batters in the contest.

Harlan starter Brett Sears allowed just three hits and struck out two batters while walking three in 5 2/3 innings. He didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning in the victory.

The Cyclones wasted no time asserting their dominance, putting up three runs in the first inning. With the bases loaded and nobody out in the second inning, Ryan Doran cleared the bases by blasting a double off the right-center field wall, giving Harlan a 6-0 advantage — a score that held up for the last five innings.

First baseman Ryan Doran went 2-for-3 with four RBIs for the Cyclones. Doran and Josh Cheek each doubled and Cheek pitched the final 1 2/3 innings without allowing any runs or hits.

Before this season, unranked Oskaloosa (28-14) had only made it to the state tournament one other time, in 1998, when it fell in its first game. The Indians came to Des Moines winning six straight games.

No. 1-ranked Harlan (35-2) is in the midst of its seventh straight state tournament and 17th overall. The Cyclones won it all in Class 3A in 2016.

Harlan will play Bishop Heelen Catholic, which beat Saydel earlier Tuesday evening, at 11 a.m. Friday in the Class 3A semifinal.

All-Academic

PELLA— A quintet of players from the 2016-17 Central College men’s basketball team earned a spot on the National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court.

Graduated seniors Austin Glawe (Aurelia), Jordan Saddoris (Ankeny), Colby Taylor (Creston) and Pete Walker (Red Oak) as well as junior Jacob Hay (Stanwood) were recognized for the academic and athletic performances.

The NABC Honors Court recognizes juniors and seniors from NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA Division I and II schools who achieve a 3.2 GPA or better while playing varsity basketball.

Taylor completed his actuarial science degree with a 3.37 GPA. He is the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,856 points, averaging 16.7 per game. He also grabbed 890 rebounds.