Farmers Market

The Akron Area Chamber of Commerce’s Farmers Market begins Wednesday, July 9. There are still a few dates available for groups to sign up for the food stand. Contact Denise Loutsch at 568-2222 for a date.

Skilly Slam

Skilly Slam ‘08 has been rescheduled for July 5 and 6 at the River Sioux Landing west of Westfield. It was postponed from June 7-8 due to the high water level. Contact the Walrods at 568-2957 or 568-9554 for more information.

Church breakfast

New Horizons

Church is hosting a Biscuits and Gravy Breakfast June 28, 7:30-10 a.m. at the church.

Smokefree workshop

A statewide smokefree law workshop for business owners will be held over the ICN June 27, 9-11 a.m. The workshop is being sponsored by Iowa Consortium for Comprehensive Cancer Control and the Northwest Iowa Tobacco Free Coalition (NWITFC). Akron Museum open Saturdays

The Akron Area Museum is open to the public on Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m. ,through Saturday, Sept. 6.

Helping Hands Thrift Shop

The final game of the A-W Invite proved to be a gem. SB-L ranked fifth in 3A tangled with A-W ranked fifth in 2A. The two teams fought it out until the bottom of the seventh. It was a pitcher’s battle from the very start but it came down to errors on Saturday, June 14 at the Akron-Westfield tourney. Errors will kill you and this just happened to A-W. SB-  upset A-W 4-3. Kayla Smith and Lexi Mathney, both Morningside College recruits, went toe to toe in this contest. Smith gave up eight hits while Mathney surrendered five. A-W had their chances as they left eight runners stranded. Jamie Schultz of SB-L started things off in the first as she connected for a home run over the right field fence. In the fourth the Warriors scored on a hit and an error to lead 2-0. A-W battled back in the fifth as Ambra Coon got on by an error. Smith and Jessica Horton both walked before Karly Groon singled to plate both Coon and Melissa Kroksh who ran for Smith. Groon was thrown out at second on a close play to end the inning. In the sixth Brandi Davis singled as well as Alison Kusler. A-W had a great opportunity as they had two outs with two on. Shelby Johnson walked and Coon had a fielders choice. Davis scored but Kusler was thrown out at the plate. A-W had the lead 3-2. SB-L got two runners on with two out because of an error and a walk. Betsy Thomas came up and answered the call as she hit a terrific drive to deep center field. Harris couldn’t catch up with it as Bohkemper scampered home to win it 4-3 for the Warriors.

The Akron-Westfield girls, led by Jessica Horton’s three hits, helped the Westerners run by Hartley-Melvin- Sanborn, 11-1 on Saturday, June 14 at the Akron-Westfield tourney. A-W scored two runs in the first inning as Ambra Coon and Horton both singled. Karly Groon, in the designated hitter role, then hit a sharp single to give A-W a 2-0 lead. HMS came back in their half of the inning to score one to make it close. In the third, Coon and Shelby Johnson both got hits and Horton then hit a high hopper over third to score two more runs. In the fourth A-W led 4-1. BrandiDavis started with a hit followed by Jordan Harris and Coon’s hits. Kayla Smith walked and Horton came through with another solid hit. In the fifth Alison Kusler and Harris both got hits, then Shelby Johnson doubled off of the right field fence. Johnson later scored as Caitlin Heyl hit to make it 11-1. Smith pitched the first four for A-W and gave up three hits. Harris threw the last inning and got herself into a little trouble but got herself out of it with no runs scored. A-W advanced to the tournament championship. The fifth ranked A-W ladies record now stands at 18-2.

Granville-Spalding Spartans were the visitors on Thursday, June 12. The Spartans proved to be no match for the Akron-Westfield Westerners. A-W came away with a 12-1 victory. A-W scored four runs in the first as Ambra Coon, Shelby Johnson, and Kayla Smith all singled. Karly Groon and Brandi Davis got on by fielding errors, then Alison Kusler singled to add to the first two runs. A-W scored two more in the second after Full homered for Spalding. The third inning proved to be the big inning as A-W bunched together six hits to push runs across the plate to make it 12-1. The 10-run rule came into effect after five innings. Leading hitters for A-W were Johnson, who was three for three; and Jessica Horton, Smith, and Kusler all had two hits apiece. Smith pitched up the win as she pitched three and two thirds before giving way to Jordan Harris. Both pitchers threw very well as they combined for a four hit game.

The Akron-Westfield girls started early on Kingsley-Pierson at the Akron-Westfield Invite Saturday, June 14. A-W pounded K-P for 15 runs on 14 hits to run to a 15-1 win. A-W scored six times in the first inning as they had five hits and a couple of walks to get going. A-W took a 6-1 lead into the third. With two outs Caitlin Heyl walked, Ambra Coon singled, then Shelby Johnson drove one over the left field fence to make it 9-1. Kayla Smith led off the fourth with a solo blast in about the same spot as Johnson. For the year it was Johnson’s third and Smith’s fifth. Coon led the way going three for four while Johnson, Jessica Horton, Brandi Davis, and Alison Kusler all had two hits a piece. Heyl pitched for A-W and gave up one run on five hits. Davis made a fine play at second to hold the runners while Coon made a fine catch in right center to kill off a Panther rally. Folks, it was actually very warm out there this day. Not a cloud in the sky, but it was still early.

The Akron-Westfield girls traveled to Spencer to play in the Spencer Invite on Friday and Saturday, June 20- 21. The Westerners started the invitational by blasting Le Mars Community 15-2. Storm Lake was the next opponent and A-W shutout the Tornados 8-0. George-Little Rock was the third foe as this was played on Saturday. A-W won this game 7-2. A-W then played the host school, Spencer, and beat the Tigers 7-3. Kayla Smith pitched complete games against Le Mars, Storm Lake and Spencer. Smith picked up a save against George-Little Rock. Jordan Harris started that game but gave way to Smith in the sixth inning. Caitlin Heyl hit A-W’s only home run in the tournament. Coach Todd Colt said that the girls played well, but extremely well against Storm Lake. They did everything right.

The visiting Orange City Unity Christian Knights proved to be no match for the Akron-Westfield Westerners. UC came to A-W on Thursday, June 19 to face the Westerners then went home with a loss in tow. A-W came out on top 10-0. A-W opened things with two runs in the first as Shelby Johnson, Ambra Coon, and Jessica Horton hit. The big inning was the third for A-W as they sent 13 batters to the plate. A-W scored eight runs on only three hits. However, if you toss in five walks and an error or two things do happen. All these things happened in favor of A-W. Shelby Johnson and Caitlin Heyl led the way for A-W as they both had three hits. Haley Banks had a good night as she was walked twice and hit the other time. Coon and Horton also went two for three. Kayla Smith pitched the first four innings and Jordan Harris pitched the fifth. They combined for a four hitter.
 

The Akron-Westfield girls had a real struggle on their hands as the South O’Brien Wolverines visited on Tuesday, June 17. Kayla Smith and Dora Roberts had a real pitchers battle. Both pitchers pitched a four hitter. A-W scored first as Haley Banks got a base on balls to start things off. Tasha Johnson running for Banks got to third because of an error and scored on a passed ball. Shelby Johnson singled, Marissa Harvey, running for Johnson, stole second and was later driven home by Smith. In the fifth Banks again got on via an error. Ambra Coon singled. Karly Groon sacrificed hitting a long drive to right center. Jessica Horton later drove home two runners. SOS scored on runs in the fifth and a lone run in the sixth to make things interesting. Smith struck out 12 to go along with her four hitters.

The Westerner girls had a tough game with the West Sioux Falcons on Monday, June 16 at Akron- Westfield’s field. West Sioux had two hits in the fourth to score their lone run. A-W 10, WS 1. A-W scored first as Shelby Johnson opened with a single. Tasha Johnson, running for her sister, scored on Karly Groon’s hit. The big inning was the third as A-W used three hits and an error to tally four times. A-W pushed across two more runs in the fourth as Ambra Coon walked following Alison Kusler’s single. Shelby Johnson walked to load the bases. Groon hit a drive that hit the base of the fence in deep center field to drive in the runners. Kayla Smith pitched a two hitter as she struck out 17 Falcons. Smith was in complete command as she struck out the first 11 batters to face her in the game. Smith also struck out the side in the fifth inning.

Akron-Westfield played in the third place game at the Galva-Holstein Invite Saturday, June 14 and came from behind to win impressively 8-3. A-W, playing Manson Northwest Webster, fell behind 1-0 then 2-1 after three innings. In the fifth, A-W still trailing, sent 12 hitters to the plate. A-W  put seven runs across the plate. A-W pounded out seven hits in the inning to have a nice rally. Tyler Johnson pitched for A-W allowing four hits. Johnson also walked five and hit one batter to allow three MNW runs. Johnson, Tanner Bundy, and Ben Brown all had two hits apiece to lead A-W at the plate.

The visiting West Sioux Falcons (Hawarden), came to play the Akron-Westfield boys on Monday, June 16 and they weren’t the friendliest bunch. WS shut-out the Westerners 7-0 as Johnny Strong held A-W at bay all evening. Justin Koch started for A-W giving four hits and struck out 10. Derek Appley relieved Koch and had his problems. A-W gave up six hits but walked eight and had three hit batters. Eleven free passes are going to cause you trouble. Appley and Tyler Johnson led A-W with two hits apiece. A-W had six hits but really never threatened.

The Akron-Westfield Westerners entertained the Granville-Spalding Spartans on Friday, June 13. A-W was shut-out 6-0. A-W started out in real trouble as they issued two walks, gave them runners on two fielding errors and a hit. Before the dust settled Spalding led 4-0. Although A-W gave up only three hits, the seven walks and two hit batters really did them in. A-W also had three hits and left five runners on base. A-W had a chance in the sixth inning as they loaded the bases with no outs but failed to score. Alex Frankl had two hits for A-W and Cale Banks had the other hit. This team is so young, but they are getting better. They have had some good defensive plays but walks have hurt them.

The visiting South O’Brien Wolverines were taken to the well as they nudged the Akron-Westfield boys on Friday, June 20. SOS started the scoring by using three straight singles and a double to grab a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the second Tyler Johnson and Ben Brown singled. Fernando Beeck got plunked by a pitch. Tanner Bundy walked before Mike Harris singled to score two. A-W later scored a single run in the fifth to make it 4-3 SOS. In the sixth Brown doubled and later scored as Harris got on by an error. SOS scored twice in the seventh to take a 6-4 lead. In the bottom of the sixth Cale Banks singled but was forced at second base. Derek Appley was on base when Justin Koch singled. A wild pitch moved both runners up. Brown then hit a shot to short who one-handed the liner except he dropped it. Two runs scored to tie it 6-6. In the eighth SOS scored four runs on a walk plus two doubles and two singles to give SOS a 10-6 lead. A-W  wasn’t done as Banks was hit by a pitch, Harris walked, Alex Frankl doubled, then Appley doubled to make it 10-9. SOS called on their ace Ryan Brasser who came in and struck out the last two A-W hitters. It was a great game to watch!

The Akron-Westfield boys traveled to Holstein to play in the four team Galva-Holstein Invitation on Saturday, June 14. A-W got a 2-0 lead only to fall behind 4-2.The Westerners fought back to grab a 5-4 lead only to lose it 6-5. A-W pitchers, Mike Harris and Derek Appley, shared pitching duties. Between the two they gave up 12 hits, but it all came down to two misplayed balls that went for hits and eventually led the the G-H win. Harris and Alex Frankl led A-W with two hits apiece.