This time, Anamosa has home field throughout softball regionals

The Anamosa Raiders have reached a level of softball continuity.

But there is still more out there.

“That’s the next step in the journey,” Coach Brad Holub said. “This year, our region comes through Anamosa.”

The Raiders reached the Class 3A regional finals in 2019 and 2020, Holub’s first two years on the job. Both times, the road ended there. On the road.

This time, seventh-ranked Anamosa (30-9) doesn’t have to leave home throughout the regional trek, and the Raiders are favored to advance to the state tournament for the first time since 1996. The next step is Friday, a 3A regional semifinal against archrival Monticello (15-18). First pitch is 7 p.m.

Friday’s regional semifinals will cut the 3A, 2A and 1A postseason fields to 16 teams apiece.

When Holub took over the program in 2019, he was the Raiders’ fourth coach in four years. His three teams have gone 74-16 with three River Valley Conference North Division titles.

“Our three teams have had different qualities,” Holub said. “That first team (2019), I thought we were one of the four best teams in the state, but we had to play (a regional final) at West Liberty.”

A regional-final loss to Mount Vernon followed last year.

This team has ridden the pitching of Emily Watters, who threw a four-inning perfect game in the Raiders’ 12-0 win over North Fayette Valley in the first round.

“The constant is that we’ve gotten strong pitching. That has kept us in games,” Holub said. “Our hitting is coming around. That’s the recipe ... play good defense, get some timely hits and get good pitching.”

Five ranked area 3A teams are in five different regions; No. 2 Mount Vernon, No. 3 Williamsburg, No. 8 West Liberty and No. 11 Solon are the others. All are favored to advance to Monday’s regional finals.

The area 2A/1A highlight will be at Lisbon, where the fourth-ranked Lions (33-8) welcome Central City (33-9).

Central City is unranked, but owns a 22-game winning streak. The Wildcats topped Springville, 1-0, Wednesday to advance.

“We’ve just jelled and come together,” Wildcats Coach Jim Ashley said. “We were a little slow at the beginning of the year, but we kept working, working ... ”

The Lions and the Wildcats split in the regular season.

“We’ve got to play Central City softball, do the little things that pay off,” Ashley said.

Friday’s Class 3A regional semifinals

(7 p.m. unless noted)

Region 4

Saydel (25-7) at Williamsburg (29-10)

Iowa Falls-Alden (12-10) at Roland-Story (23-8)

Region 5

Independence (18-24) at Mount Vernon (32-4), 5 p.m.

Clear Lake (12-12) at Hampton-Dumont/CAL (14-8)

Region 6

Monticello (15-18) at Anamosa (30-9)

Waukon (12-18) at Crestwood (20-7)

Region 7

Maquoketa (18-18) at Davenport Assumption (35-3)

West Marshall (7-19) at Solon (25-12)

Region 8

Davis County (20-7) at West Burlington (30-4)

Knoxville (22-8) at West Liberty (21-7)

Friday’s Class 2A regional semifinals

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 6

Jesup (25-10) at North Linn (37-6)

Denver (16-13) at Alburnett (27-12)

Region 7

Iowa City Regina (17-12) at Louisa-Muscatine (20-8)

Danville/Van Buren County winner vs. Cardinal (16-13), at Wapello

Region 8

Durant (16-19) at Wilton (26-3)

Cascade (19-15) at Northeast (25-13)

Friday’s Class 1A regional semifinals

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 5

English Valleys/Sigourney winner vs. North Mahaska (18-10), at Sigourney

Belle Plaine (16-17) at Lynnville-Sully (24-8)

Region 6

Saint Ansgar (21-8) at Mason City Newman (26-10)

Lansing Kee (15-15) at North Butler (18-5)

Region 8

Central City (33-9) at Lisbon (33-8)

Highland (21-6) at Winfield-Mount Union (17-5)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com