Top-ranked Canistota/Freeman trailed De Smet by a touchdown going into the fourth quarter, but a 5-yard run by Tyce Ortman put the Pride ahead 14-12 and the two-time defending champions held off the Bulldogs for a dramatic road win Friday night, Aug. 28.

The Menno Wolves won their volleyball opener 25-18, 26-24, 25-18 over Centerville Thursday night, Aug. 27 at home. Jesse Munkvold had a big game with 10 kills and 21 digs to lead Menno. Kylie Harriman had 12 digs, 11 set assists and 3 aces, and Kaylie Schempp added a dozen digs. Additionally, the Wolves got 5 kills and 2 blocks from Madelyn Heckenlaible and 5 kills from both Bridget Vaith and Adrian Nusz.

Freeman High School lost its first set 27-29 but came back to win the next two 25-18, 25-16 to take down Avon in the season opener in Freeman Tuesday night, Aug. 25. Rijjy Peterson had seven kills, a pair of blocks, 12 digs and nine aces to lead the Flyers while Oddy Pankratz added six kills, two blocks of her own, 11 set assists and five digs. Mesa Mehlhaf had six kills and Cara Maske 11 set assists. The Flyers host Irene-Wakonda on Tuesday, Sept. 1.    

Two-time defending 9A champion Canistota/Freeman raced ahead to a 26-0 lead in the first quarter en route to a 46-0 win over Chester Area as the 2020 season got underway in Canistota Friday night, Aug. 21. Senior quarterback Tyce Ortman rushed for four touchdowns, Isiah Robertson ran for two and Blake Anderson carried the ball for one to lead a ground game that accounted for 282 of the Pride's 348 total yards. Canistota/Freeman's defense forced five turnovers and held the Flyers to just 127 total yards. Clayton Smith led the Pride defense with four solo tackles.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER For the Menno town team, a 13-8 win over Irene in the first round of the District 6B Amateur Baseball Tournament on Friday, July 24, put the second-seed Mad Frogs in the position they had hoped for — one win away from a return trip to Mitchell’s Cadwell Park and the state tournament. That’s what makes their elimination so confounding and tough to take.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER Lori Lehr knew she wanted to offer traditional ballpark fare at the concession stand that is part of the Lily Pad baseball complex in Menno during the recent District 6B Amateur Baseball Tournament, so items like burgers, hot dogs and nachos were a given. But she also wanted to beef up the menu with additional options for hungry baseball fans who converged at the ballfield during the tournament’s six-night run, 12-game run, “but I just couldn’t decide on what.”

JEREMY WALTNER | PUBLISHER Menno managed to get the tying run to the plate, but pitcher Brandon Nickolite and the Lesterville Broncs staved off a bottom-of-the-ninth inning rally to claim a 7-5 win and a trip to the state tournament in District 6B amateur action in Menno Thursday night, July 30.

JEREMY WALTNER | PUBLISHER A young team made up of a number of first-year amateur players with their eyes fixed on the state tournament saw their season end earlier than they had hoped when the Freeman town team lost an elimination game to Irene Sunday night, July 26.

Irene scored four runs in both the second and third innings en route to a 16-3 win over Freeman in the second round of the District 6B Amateur Baseball Tournament in Menno Sunday night, July 26. The loss ends the 2020 season for the Blacksox, who entered the postseason as the No. 6 seed in the South Central League. Irene, the No. 7 seed, plays again Thursday night for a chance to advance to the state tournament. 

No. 6 Freeman gave No. 3 Crofton a battle, but came up short in a 4-2 final on the second night of the District 6B Baseball Tournament in Menno Friday night, July 24. Meanwhile, No. 2 Menno topped No. 7 Irene 13-8. Freeman's loss pairs the Blacksox with Irene Sunday night at 7 p.m. in an elimination game. The Mad Frogs will play Crofton at approximately 8 p.m. Tuesday night for chance to play in the district championship on Aug. 1.