Sifting through the area league races, and the haze, as the softball regular season concludes

As area high school softball league races reach their climactic final days, we’re keeping our eyes on the skies.

Not for lightning or rain. For haze.

Air-quality issues knocked out a number of key games Tuesday, and Wednesday night’s contests are wait-and-see.

Conference and divisional championships are still up for grabs in some cases, clinched in others.

Here’s a look around the area:

MVC Mississippi Division

Tuesday’s critical doubleheader between Dubuque Wahlert (24-7, 11-4) and Cedar Rapids Xavier (22-9, 11-5) was “smoked out,” and will be rescheduled for Friday.

In the meantime, Wahlert hosts Cedar Rapids Washington for one game Wednesday and welcomes Cedar Falls for two Thursday.

Xavier has the more challenging pre-showdown path, playing a doubleheader at Cedar Rapids Prairie on Thursday.

Dubuque Senior (22-13, 11-7) kept its title hopes alive with a sweep at Iowa City Liberty on Tuesday.

MVC Valley Division

Division leader Linn-Mar (20-8, 15-1) has five MVC games remaining, and none of them are a snap.

The Lions’ pivotal doubleheader is Thursday at Dubuque Hempstead (27-9, 15-3). But first, they must take care of business at Cedar Rapids Prairie (one game) Wednesday. A makeup twinbill Monday at home against Cedar Rapids Kennedy also looms large.

Hempstead is at Cedar Rapids Jefferson for two games Wednesday, the first of which counts in league standings.

Western Dubuque (24-8, 14-4) still can be a factor if it wins out; the Bobcats are scheduled for one MVC game Wednesday at Iowa City Liberty and host Waterloo West in a doubleheader Thursday.

Wamac

Both titles have been decided. Williamsburg (28-5, 18-2) wears the crown in the West Division; Mount Vernon (23-9, 14-4) is the champion of the East.

River Valley North

First-year member Maquoketa (25-7, 13-1) has secured its first softball league title in school history.

River Valley South

Iowa City Regina (23-7, 13-3) holds the inside track. The Regals can clinch a share for the title Wednesday at Tipton, then can win it outright if they beat West Liberty (16-9, 12-5) Thursday at home.

Wilton (26-8, 13-4) can earn a piece of the title with a win at West Branch on Thursday and if the Regals drop one of their last two.

Tri-Rivers

North Linn (30-5, 22-0) is the West Division champion, and Lisbon (29-7, 20-2) has wrapped up the East.

Northeast Iowa

Decorah (13-13, 8-3) holds a two-game lead with four to play, but the last two — Monday on the road — are at second-place Charles City (13-11, 6-5).

The Vikings are at Crestwood (13-14, 5-7) on Thursday; Charles City hosts Waukon (14-11, 6-6).

South Iowa Cedar

Sigourney (22-4, 16-0) ran roughshod through the SICL, outscoring its competition by a margin of 196-3.

Upper Iowa

It’s a three-way tie for first place as the race concludes Wednesday, and two of the three front-runners — Lansing Kee (15-15, 12-2) and South Winneshiek (17-14, 12-2) — square off at Calmar.

North Fayette Valley (16-13, 12-2) hosts winless Postville.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com