West 'capable' of regional run

After spending the last week of the regular season in the role of spoiler, Iowa City West takes on a new softball persona Thursday.Survivor.Class 5A and Class 4A regionals kick off with limited action -- one game in each region in 5A, two per bracket in 4A. A state-tournament team last year, West (20-19) hosts Cedar Rapids Kennedy (13-24) in a 5A game.First pitch is 7 p.m."We're playing good ball, and we're capable of putting it together," West Coach Barb Lynn said after the Women of Troy split with Cedar Rapids Jefferson on Monday, denying the J-Hawks the MVC Mississippi Division title. "We're looking forward to (Thursday)."There is basis for Lynn's optimism. The Women of Troy have beaten the top-level MVC teams like Cedar Rapids Xavier, Cedar Rapids Prairie (twice), Dubuque Senior and Jefferson.Whenever Kennedy is eliminated, it will mark the end of Katie Bova's tenure; she said last week she will resign as head coach after the season.The Kennedy-West game marks the only Metro/Iowa City matchup in Round 1; the others join the fray in the semifinal round Saturday.It will be a challenge for an area 5A team to reach the state tournament, with sharks like Muscatine, Ottumwa and Pleasant Valley in the same waters as the local squads.In 4A, Marion (12-25) is at Vinton-Shellsburg (22-15) in a battle of Wamac Conference West Division rivals. The Vikettes have won four of their last five games, including a split with divisional champion Benton Community.

CLASS 5A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 5Clinton at Davenport West (winner plays at Pleasant Valley on Saturday; other regional semifinal Saturday: Linn-Mar at Cedar Rapids Prairie)

Region 6Davenport Central at Bettendorf (winner plays at Muscatine on Saturday; other regional semifinal Saturday: Cedar Rapids Washington at Cedar Rapids Jefferson)

Region 7Cedar Rapids Kennedy at Iowa City West (winner plays at Iowa City High on Saturday; other regional semifinal Saturday: Burlington at Ottumwa)

CLASS 4A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 2Decorah at Charles City (winner plays at Waverly-Shell Rock on Saturday)Clear Lake at Webster City (winner plays at Ballard on Saturday)

Region 3Western Dubuque at Maquoketa (winner plays at West Delaware on Saturday)Dubuque Wahlert at DeWitt Central (winner plays at Solon on Saturday)

Region 4Fort Madison at Keokuk (winner plays at Washington on Saturday)Davenport North at North Scott (winner plays at Cedar Rapids Xavier on Saturday)

Region 5Marion at Vinton-Shellsburg (winner plays at Benton Community on Saturday)Grinnell at Clear Creek Amana (winner plays at Carlisle on Saturday)