July 6, 1976. A record 447 schools have entered the Girls Summer Softball Tournament series, an increase of 30 teams over 1975. The 64 sectional tournaments will start on Saturday, July 17, and Monday, July 19. First and second place teams from each sectional will advance into 16 district tournaments scheduled for July 23, 24, and 26. The 16 district winners will comprise a field for the state summer tournament, which is scheduled for August 2 through August 6 at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge.
Alleman Sectional. Teams are: Ballard, Collins, Maxwell, North Polk.
July 7, 1976. Collins and Colo divided a baseball/softball Ta-Ma-Ja Conference double header Tuesday with Collins winning in baseball and Colo winning in softball, at Colo.
Steve Oglesby pitched the victory and also hit a home run as Collins boys swept its season series with Colo. Oglesby had 11 strikeouts and walked 3. He also hit a home run in the 4th inning. Jim Wright had the other 2 Collins hits with a double and single. Colo team had 9 errors with Collins 4 errors.
Colo girls scored in every inning in Collins-Colo game at Colo and went on to win in 5 frames in softball action, 15-4, over Collins girls. Collins hits: Sue Long 2, Rhonda Smith triple, Cindy Dunshee and Terry Hugen each had singles. Losing pitcher, Rhonda Smith, allowed 8 hits, walked 12, and had 2 strikeouts.
July 10, 1976. Colo completed Ta-Ma-Ja Conference baseball season defeating Garwin 10-5. Collins vs Colo Monday night at the Colo diamond at 8:00 p.m. in the sectional baseball tournament. Collins won the 2 previous season games 7-5 and 8-6.
July 13, 1976. Collins boys stopped arch rival Colo 3-2 in 9 innings in the first round of the sectional tournament at Colo. This is the 3rd close victory Collins has achieved over Colo this year. Colo led 1-0 with Collins scoring 2 runs in the 4th inning. Colo rallied for 1 run in the 7th for a score of 2-2. Collins scored the winning 3rd run in the bottom of the 9th inning. Oglesby came on to pitch in the last of the 7th and struck out a pair of Gilbert batters with the bases loaded. Collins scored the winning run in the last of the 7th on Kirk Patterson's walk, stolen base, Mike McDermott's sacrifice bunt and a single to left field by Marvin Hampton on the 1st pitch. Collins started Oglesby as pitcher, came on with Leonard and then came back with Oglesby in the 7th who made the final two outs with strikeouts. Marv Hampton and Oglesby each had 2 hits, with Lilliard, Anderson, and Jeff Titus 1 hit each. Colo pitcher and Steve Oglesby of Collins each had 12 strikeouts with Oglesby walking 5 and Colo pitcher 4.
Collins advances against Gilbert with a 13-5 season record. Collins scored 3 runs with 3 hits and had 3 errors.
July 13, 1976. Girls softball second team selection: Chris Dunshee, first base, Collins.
Boys baseball first team: Steve Oglesby, pitcher, Collins. Second team: Steve Lillard, infield, Collins. Jim Anderson, catcher, Collins.
Collins baseball season record -- 11-5.
July 15, 1976. Collins seemingly thriving on nail-biting 1-run games, another, advance to the semifinals of the Class A sectional tournament as the Clippers tripped Gilbert 7-6. Collins will face West Marshal in the semifinals at Colo Friday night at 8:00 p.m. The game was a constant uphill struggle for Collins, which has won 8 of 9 1-run games this year.