A region full of balance

No clear favorites. No longshots. Just balance.

That's what remains in Class 2A Region 4 as the regional softball tournament resumes for the three smaller classes Friday.

'That's exactly right,” said Alburnett Coach Kevin Johnson. 'Any of the four (remaining teams) can go (to state). And any of them will probably represent this part of the state pretty well.

'At this point, it's going to come down to whoever is playing best and believing most.”

No. 15 Alburnett (24-12) travels to Iowa City Regina (21-17) in a regional semifinal while No. 7 Durant (27-10) hosts No. 14 North Cedar (19-12). Both games start at 7 p.m.

All four teams had challenging quarterfinals Wednesday, and all of them won convincingly.

For the Pirates, it was a 10-1 triumph over Edgewood-Colesburg.

'We were a little nervous,” Johnson said. 'We made three errors, and all three were easy plays. Hopefully we got it out of our systems.”

Regina is the only unranked team in the group, but the Regals are dangerous. They advanced to state last year (placing seventh in 2A), opened the season at No. 1 and traditionally play a tough schedule.

'Their pitching is strong and they're popping the ball over the fence,” Johnson said.

North Cedar is the surprise of the foursome. The Knights are champions of the River Valley Conference North Division.

In Class 3A, top-ranked Benton Community (36-4) breezed through its quarterfinal, 17-0 over Tipton, and hosts Camanche (13-18) in Round 2.

Meanwhile, No. 6 Center Point-Urbana (27-9) and No. 12 Mount Vernon (28-9) are a step away from a much-anticipated regional-final matchup - the Stormin' Pointers host Independence (13-25) while the Mustangs entertain Anamosa (17-11).

Central City (19-21) and Don Bosco (19-14) both upset rated foes in the 1A quarterfinal, and they collide Friday at Center Point. Game time is 5:30.

CLASS 3A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 5

Independence (13-25) at Center Point-Urbana (27-9)

Anamosa (17-11) at Mount Vernon (28-9)

Region 6

Camanche (13-18) at Benton Community (36-4)

Williamsburg (15-21) at Mid-Prairie (23-10)

CLASS 2A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 3

North Butler (16-8) at Central Springs (25-4)

MFL MarMac (22-17) at Denver (24-8)

Region 4

North Cedar (19-12) at Durant (27-10)

Alburnett (24-12) at Iowa City Regina (21-17)

Region 5

Wapello (22-9) at Highland (29-1)

Pella Christian (15-18) vs Jesup (15-23), at Brooklyn

CLASS 1A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(7 p.m. unless noted)

Region 2

Clarksville (8-15) at Mason City Newman (23-6)

Turkey Valley (18-17) at Lansing Kee (30-9)

Region 3

Colo-Nesco (7-12) at Ackley AGWSR (25-6)

Don Bosco (19-14) vs. Central City (19-21), at Center Point, 5:30 p.m.

Region 4

New London (24-4) at Lone Tree (15-16)

Lisbon (22-14) at Bellevue Marquette (32-6)

Region 5

Twin Cedars (15-11) at Lynnville-Sully (32-1)

HLV (14-10) at Sigourney (23-8)

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