Unique situation arises for Washington, City

It is unique, for sure. And, as Terry Coleman admits, it's 'not ideal.”

The softball teams from Cedar Rapids Washington and Iowa City High have an intriguing arrangement the next couple days.

Washington (13-21, prior to Wednesday's double-header against Iowa City West) hosts City High (6-26) in a Class 5A regional quarterfinal at Franklin Field on Thursday. First pitch is 7 p.m.

Win or go home? Not in this instance.

The Warriors travel to City High on Friday for a Mississippi Valley Conference makeup double-header. One team will be done after Friday; the other's focus will be on Saturday's regional semifinal at No. 4 Iowa City West.

'It's kind of weird, but that's how we're going to do it,” said Washington Coach Erin Jones. 'Win or lose (Thursday), I'm sure both teams will have a tough time getting motivated (to play) Friday.”

Coleman, the athletics director at City High, said that the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union 'encourages everybody to make every effort to make up games,” and that the Washington-City High regular-season matchup will have a direct bearing on the conference standings and could decide a close girls' all-sports race between City High and Dubuque Hempstead in the MVC Mississippi Division.

'It's not ideal, but it's the best way to keep the integrity of the games that were scheduled,” Coleman said.

The double-header was originally scheduled for Monday, but was rained out. Washington already was booked for games Tuesday and Wednesday.

Washington and City High are the only two area 5A teams playing Thursday. The rest open with semifinal games Saturday.

Class 4A quarterfinals include a matchup at the Les Hipple Athletic Complex between Marion (20-14) and Vinton-Shellsburg (18-19). In the only area 4A battle matching two winning teams, Clear Creek Amana (21-16) is at Maquoketa.

THURSDAY'S CLASS 5A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 3

Davenport Central (NA) at Dubuque Senior (16-20)

Region 4

Dubuque Hempstead (17-19) at Davenport West (16-18)

Region 6

Iowa City High (6-26) at Cedar Rapids Washington (13-21)

THURSDAY'S CLASS 4A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 3

Decorah (8-15) at Charles City (18-12)

Dubuque Wahlert (2-34) at Western Dubuque (15-19)

Region 5

Washington (7-26) at Fairfield (26-10)

Clear Creek Amana (21-16) at Maquoketa (19-16)

Region 6

Pella (18-13) at Knoxville (19-12)

Vinton-Shellsburg (18-19) at Marion (20-14)

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