Hawks chasing first league title since 1988

The title drought is reflected in the trophy case.

Joe Yegge scoured the hallways at Cedar Rapids Prairie, looking for hardware earned by the softball team.

The most recent trophy for a Mississippi Valley Conference championship? Try 1988.

'We've been talking about that,” Yegge said. 'We've been watching the standings. We're trying to stay calm.

'But a (divisional championship) is our No. 1 goal right now.”

The Hawks (23-10 overall, 15-7 MVC) are in control of the Mississippi Division race. They lead Waterloo West (18-11, 15-9) by two games in the loss column with four games to play.

Prairie is at Waterloo East on Monday, then ends league play Tuesday at Class 5A ninth-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy. West hosts No. 5 Cedar Rapids Jefferson on Monday.

'We've got to take care of East on Monday, so we don't have to worry about Tuesday,” Yegge said.

Now in his third year at Prairie, Yegge transformed the Hawks into a winner upon his arrival, guiding them to a sixth-place finish at state in 2013. This year, despite some bumps, the Hawks have been the best team in their division.

Some of it has been the luck of the draw. Three teams in the Valley Division - Iowa City West (29-5, 20-2), Cedar Rapids Jefferson (31-6, 21-3) and Kennedy (26-10, 16-6) - own better league records.

'We're still young, and we've been up and down at times,” Yegge said. 'But we've got great speed, and our pitching has been pretty consistent.”

Despite a sweep of Iowa City West last week, Jefferson still trails by Women of Troy by a game in the loss column in the Valley Division. West closes with double-headers against Linn-Mar (home, Monday) and Cedar Rapids Washington (away, Wednesday), while the J-Hawks put a wrap on their league slate Monday with their twinbill at Waterloo West.

IT'S TOURNEY TIME IN 1A, 2A

For teams in the smallest two classes, the focus shifts to regional play.

Monday marks the first round in Class 2A and Class 1A. Most of the top teams in 2A drew first-round byes, and start Wednesday. That includes No. 1 Highland, No. 11 Iowa City Regina and No. 12 Cascade.

The lone area ranked team in 1A, No. 15 Central City (29-9) kicks off Monday at home against Midland (2-25).

CLASS 2A REGIONAL FIRST ROUND

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 4

Hudson at Aplington-Parkersburg

Bellevue at Maquoketa Valley

Region 5

Tipton at North Cedar

Jesup at Sumner-Fredericksburg

Region 6

Danville at Pekin

Lisbon at West Branch

CLASS 1A REGIONAL FIRST ROUND

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 3

Easton Valley at Calamus-Wheatland

Midland at Central City

Lone Tree at Springville

Edgewood-Colesburg at Elkader Central

Starmont at West Central

Region 4

Iowa Mennonite at HLV

Iowa Valley at Belle Plaine

English Valleys at BGM

Wapsie Valley at East Buchanan

Tripoli at Dunkerton

Region 5

Harmony at Keota

Winfield-Mount Union at Van Buren

Moulton-Udell at Tri-County

Twin Cedars at North Mahaska

Seymour at Moravia

Region 6

Melcher-Dallas at Montezuma

Colfax-Mingo at Martensdale-St. Marys

Grand View Christian at Pleasantville

Diagonal at Mount Ayr

Murray vs. Mormon Trail, 5:30 p.m., at Milo

East Union at Southeast Warren, 7:15 p.m.

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