Spartans get back to regional final

 CORRECTIONVILLE -- A three-run third inning was all it took for Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton Friday night as the Spartan softball team knocked off 10th-ranked River Valley, 3-2, in a Class 1-A, Region 7 semifinal.
 Exira-EHK scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the third and staved off a sixth-inning rally by the Wolverines to qualify for its fourth regional final in five years.
 The 20-6 Spartans, still searching for their first state softball tournament berth, played at Rolling Valley Conference rival Charter Oak-Ute (24-12) in Monday’s Region 7 final. The Bobcats also upset a ranked team Friday, winning 10-4 at No. 8 Lawton-Bronson.
 Exira-EHK split its season series vs. CO-U, winning the most recent matchup 11-7 on June 29 in Kimballton.