Lots in common for Cougars, Warriors

Welcome to the world of important softball in July. Welcome to relevance.

Youthful, ascendant Cedar Rapids Kennedy travels to youthful, ascendant Cedar Rapids Washington in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday.

First pitch is 7 p.m. at Washington-Franklin Field. That, as much as anything, speaks to the Warriors' progress. They're hosting a postseason game for the first time in ages.

'It's awesome and it's exciting,” said first-year Warriors coach Erin Jones. 'It's neat to have people in the community talking about us. It's good to have them behind us.”

Kennedy (26-13) advanced by edging Waterloo East, 2-1, in the first round. The Warriors (22-16) had an opening-night bye and viewed the Kennedy-East thriller.

The three regular-season matchups all belonged to the Cougars.

'We were able to manufacture runs, and our pitchers did their job,” said Kennedy Coach Dan Gratz.

Like Jones, Gratz is a head-coaching rookie.

'It's exciting that we've both has success in our first year, and we're playing in a big game like this,” Jones said. 'Obviously, Kennedy has bought into what he's selling.”

All seven Metro schools are in action Saturday.

No. 6 Cedar Rapids Jefferson (32-6) hosts Dubuque Hempstead (20-20) while No. 9 Linn-Mar (27-13) entertains Dubuque Senior (18-22).

Linn-Mar's Sommer twins (Katie and Kristie) were all-staters at Senior last year.

In a rematch of last year's regional final, Cedar Rapids Prairie (25-13) hosts No. 7 Pleasant Valley (28-8).

The Hawks upset PV last year and advanced to their first state tournament.

In Class 4A, No. 5 Cedar Rapids Xavier (33-6) hosts Clear Creek Amana (20-17) while Marion (7-23) takes aim at No. 3 Solon (35-2).

Among other area ranked teams, No. 8 Iowa City West (29-9) hosts Davenport West (22-14) in 5A, while 4A No. 10 West Delaware (28-7) takes on Western Dubuque (19-21) at Manchester.

Regional finals are scheduled for Monday in 1A, 2A and 3A, Tuesday in 4A and 5A.

SATURDAY'S CLASS 5A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 3

Dubuque Hempstead (20-20) at Cedar Rapids Jefferson (32-6)

Dubuque Senior (18-22) at Linn-Mar (27-13)

Region 4

Davenport West (22-14) at Iowa City West (29-9)

Pleasant Valley (28-8) at Cedar Rapids Prairie (25-13)

Region 5

Bettendorf (27-14) at Muscatine (35-4)

Iowa City High (9-28) at Ottumwa (26-11)

Region 6

Cedar Rapids Kennedy (26-13) at Cedar Rapids Washington (22-16)

Des Moines East (14-21) at Southeast Polk (26-9)

SATURDAY'S CLASS 4A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 2

Western Dubuque (19-21) at West Delaware (28-7)

Charles City (25-10) at Waverly-Shell Rock (30-8)

Region 3

Marion (7-23) at Solon (35-2)

Maquoketa (17-17) at North Scott (23-11)

Region 4

Clear Creek Amana (20-17) at Cedar Rapids Xavier (33-6)

Washington (15-21) at Davenport Assumption (28-11)

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@sourcemedia.net