Cyclone baseball caps 3-1 week with big win over rival Lewis Central,4-1

COUNCIL BLUFFS — The Harlan Community C-clones baseball team continued their strong start to the season by going 3-1 during a busy stretch that featured a split with Atlantic, a run-rule victory over Kuemper Catholic and a hard-fought road win over Lewis Central.
Throughout the week, HCHS showcased dominant pitching, opportunistic offense and strong defense while outscoring opponents 34-9.
The Cyclones opened Monday’s doubleheader with a commanding 13-1 victory over Atlantic.
Junior Gavin Eck was outstanding on the mound, tossing a complete-game three-hitter while allowing just one run and striking out three over seven innings.
The offense erupted for 13 runs on 10 hits. 
Jacob Spangenberg led the way by going 2-for-5 with a double and four RBIs. 
Barrett Kaufman finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored, while Foxx Argotsinger reached base three times and scored three runs.
Jonas Reynolds added two hits, including a double, as the Cyclones stole five bases and took advantage of three Atlantic errors.
The Trojans bounced back in the nightcap with a 6-4 victory.
Harrison Kjergaard supplied the offensive highlight with a solo home run, while Reynolds recorded the Cyclones’ other hit.
Foxx Argotsinger dominated during his outing, allowing no hits and striking out three over 2 2/3 innings. 
However, Atlantic capitalized on eight walks and seven hit batters to secure the split.
The Cyclones responded Tuesday with an 11-1 run-rule victory over Kuemper Catholic.
Senior Jonas Reynolds turned in one of the best pitching performances of the season, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out nine and walking none over six innings.
The Cyclones scored 11 runs despite recording only six hits, taking advantage of six walks and seven Knight errors.
Reynolds also drove in three runs offensively. Gavin Eck doubled and drove in two runs, while Kjergaard added a double and RBI. 
Colton Schneider scored twice and drove in another run.
The Cyclones capped the stretch with one of their grittiest wins of the season Thursday, rallying for three runs in the seventh inning to defeat Lewis Central 4-1 in Council Bluffs.
Locked in a 1-1 tie entering the final inning, HCHS came through with two outs. 
Kjergaard delivered the biggest hit of the game with a two-run triple that scored Schneider and Cade Nelson. Joseph Gross followed with an RBI double to extend the lead to 4-1.
Kjergaard said he knew immediately he had squared the ball up.
“I felt that it was barreled up and it didn’t really feel 
like the ball even hit the bat, but I heard it,” Kjergaard said.
“I looked up and it was going down the third-base line and I knew it was going to be big for the team.”
Kjergaard credited his offseason work and approach at the plate for helping him stay composed in the pressure-filled moment.
“We work a lot in the offseason on approaches and clearing your head before every single at-bat, so I called time there with an 0-2 count because I had to clear my head,” Kjergaard said. 
“I was sitting in the box too long and starting to overthink. Stepping out of the box and sticking with your approach throughout the whole season is big.”
The rally provided more than enough support for sophomore Gavin Sisson, who carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and allowed just one hit over six out-standing innings.
Lewis Central tied the game in the sixth after breaking up the no-hit bid, but Sisson escaped further dam-age and kept the contest even heading into the seventh.
Argotsinger made several key defensive plays in center field, including a diving catch in the sixth inning that preserved the tie.
After the Cyclones grabbed the lead, Schneider took over on the mound in the seventh and struck out all three outs he recorded to earn the win and secure the victory.
Reynolds led the offense with two hits and scored the team’s first run. 
Kjergaard finished with the game-winning two-run triple, while Gross added an insurance RBI double.
Cyclone head coach Heath Stein praised his team’s effort, especially on the mound.
“They dropped a fly ball that gave us our first run of the game,” Stein said. 
“Sisson was dominant on the mound and carried a no-hitter into the sixth. He was executing pitch after pitch in tough spots, getting the leadoff hitter out a bunch and was dominant for six innings. Then Colton came in and slammed the door.”
Stein also highlighted Kjergaard’s ability to rise to the occasion.
“He’s executing his approach really, really well  probably the best on the team so far this season,” Stein said. “You feel good when he comes to the plate, especially in a big moment, because he can slow it down a bit and not let the moment get too big. He absolutely crushed the ball down the third-base line and gave us a little breathing room. Great job out of Harrison.”
Following the 3-1 week, the Cyclones improved to 7-3 on the season.
HCHS returns to action Monday with a doubleheader against Glenwood before hosting Denison-Schleswig on Thursday. 
The Cyclones will then travel to Fort Dodge on Friday to face Ballard and Spencer at the Iowa Central Invitational.