For Gahring and Saints, it’s time to deliver

Nikki Gahring has prepared her team and her staff for some time without her.

'This past week, I've pretty much been totally hands-off,” said Gahring, the softball coach at Cedar Rapids Xavier. 'I've tried not to say a lot, because I want (assistant coach) Kristin (Winter) and the team to be comfortable.”

Gahring's due date has come and gone - she was expected to deliver her first child on Thursday, but nothing yet as of Friday afternoon. The Saints probably feel a bit overdue in terms of postseason success.

A regional-semifinal casualty each of the past two seasons, No. 15 Xavier (24-15) hosts Marion (21-14) in the headline battle of Saturday's Metro regional bonanza. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at Bob Erusha Field.

Gahring, in her third year as head coach, has ceded the third-base coaching box to Winter - a former Xavier player in her fourth year as an assistant - and will hand the reins to Winter when the time comes.

'It hasn't been a distraction, though there have been a lot of questions from the girls,” Gahring said. 'Kristin and I have talked about how and when we'll tell them when it happens. I won't want them to lose their intensity and focus.”

Xavier had a first-round bye, while Marion advanced to this step with a 4-3 win over Vinton-Shellsburg on Thursday.

All seven of the softball-playing Metros will be in action Friday. The best of the 5A encounters will be at Cedar Rapids Prairie, where the MVC Mississippi Division champion Hawks (26-11) host runner-up Waterloo West (23-14).

Elsewhere, No. 3 Cedar Rapids Jefferson (33-7) hosts Dubuque Senior (18-21), No. 10 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (28-12) entertains Davenport West (17-18), Linn-Mar (23-17) has a home date with Waterloo East (13-25), and Cedar Rapids Washington (14-23) is at No. 4 Iowa City West (33-5).

Saturday's survivors play for state-tournament berths Tuesday.

Xavier was taken out in the regional-semifinal round in 2013 by North Scott and in 2014 by Clear Creek Amana. This year's team looks ready to go; it enters with a four-game win streak, including a 4-1 win over No. 10 Waverly-Shell Rock on Wednesday. Hannah Helms leads the Saints in both runs (40) and RBIs (34).

Marion has won five straight games. Seven of the Indians' starters are sophomores or younger, including eighth-graders Sydney Nielsen (.339, 39 RBIs) and Maddie Knapp (.330).

SATURDAY'S CLASS 5A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 3

Dubuque Senior (18-21) at Cedar Rapids Jefferson (33-7)

Waterloo West (23-14) at Cedar Rapids Prairie (26-11)

Region 4

Davenport West (17-18) at Cedar Rapids Kennedy (28-12)

Waterloo East (13-25) at Linn-Mar (23-17)

Region 6

C.R. Washington (14-23) at Iowa City West (33-5)

Cedar Falls (14-25) at Ankeny (19-21)

SATURDAY'S CLASS 4A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 3

Charles City (19-12) at Waverly-Shell Rock (32-5)

Western Dubuque (16-19) at West Delaware (24-14)

Region 5

Fairfield (27-10) at Oskaloosa (26-6)

Clear Creek Amana (22-16) at North Scott (26-11)

Region 6

Pella (19-13) at Indianola (33-7)

Marion (21-14) at Cedar Rapids Xavier (24-15)

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com