Softball notes: The roar is back at Lisbon

After a couple of years mired in unaccustomed mediocrity, Lisbon High School softball coach Bob Bunting had a hunch his team would be improved this season.

But not like this.

'This is sort of surprising,' Bunting said. 'But we inherited a really good pitcher, and that has helped us tremendously.'

The No. 3 pitcher at Solon last year, sophomore Skylar Sadler is the unquestioned No. 1 at Lisbon now. And the Class 2A 12th-ranked Lions have soared to a 16-3 start, including 10-0 in a competitive Tri-Rivers Conference.

'You can tell (Sadler) works at it a lot,' Bunting said. 'A lot of kids pick up a ball in April, and that doesn't cut it.'

Sadler (13-1) owns a 0.59 earned run average with a 116-to-7 strikeout-to-walk rate in 83 innings. She's the missing link for a program on the rebound.

In his 48th year, Bunting owns more than 1,100 career victories. But the Lions slid to 14-24 in 2015, then inched forward to 21-20 last season.

'We're a young ball club, but our chemistry has been really good,' Bunting said. 'I love our attitude; it's something that has been missing here for a while.'

One of just two seniors on the roster, Ally Smith leads the offense at .472 with 26 RBIs.

It's a balanced lineup reliant more on speed than power. Eight players are hitting .300 or better, with junior Madelyn Morningstar the only player with multiple home runs (she has four).

Leadoff hitter Reegan Happel (.424) has scored 23 runs and is 21 of 21 in stolen-base attempts.

'We still sacrifice quite a bit,' Bunting said. 'Happel gets on base, and we have the bats to get her over and get her in.'

Lisbon's three losses have come against ranked foes from larger classes — Mount Vernon (3A), Davenport West (5A) and Pleasant Valley (5A). The Lions hold a two-game lead on Central City in the Tri-Rivers, and face the Wildcats on the road June 22.

MVC VALLEY: CROWDED AT THE TOP

The Mississippi Valley Conference schedule has passed the midpoint, and the Valley Division race features a four-team dead heat at the top.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Dubuque Hempstead, Cedar Rapids Prairie and Iowa City High all are 10-4 in league play.

Prairie (15-6 overall) has won 10 consecutive games. The Hawks still play all three of the other contenders, starting with a doubleheader at Cedar Rapids Kennedy (16-4 overall) on Thursday.

CLOSING IN ON PAIRINGS

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union plans to release regional pairings Monday for Class 1A, 2A and 3A, according to assistant director Jason Eslinger.

Pairings for the largest two classes should be out next Thursday.

The regional series begins July 3. Regional finals are July 10 in 1A, 2A and 3A, July 11 in 4A and 5A.

The state tournament is July 17-21 at Rogers Park, Fort Dodge.

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