Softball notes: It’s still, truly, anybody’s race in the MVC Mississippi Division

Accept the uncertainty of Mississippi Valley Conference softball. In fact, embrace it.

“Looking at all of the scores, it seems like everybody is all over the place,” said Hannah Cole, first-year head coach at Iowa City Liberty.

Tuesday night, it was Cole’s Bolts that opened eyes leaguewide, sweeping Class 3A top-ranked Dubuque Wahlert, 13-0 and 10-0, at North Liberty.

“We came out swinging and kept on swinging,” Cole said.

The MVC Mississippi Division is a seven-team cluster, with only 1 1/2 games separating the top from the bottom. Through Tuesday, Wahlert (5-2 overall, 4-2 MVC) retains a slight lead.

Cedar Rapids Xavier (9-3, 5-3), Liberty (6-5, 5-3) and Cedar Rapids Jefferson (6-6, 4-3) highlight the chase pack. Then it’s Dubuque Senior (6-3, 3-3), Cedar Rapids Prairie (4-5, 3-3) and Cedar Falls (4-2, 1-2).

“We battled some injuries early,” Cole said. “I think eventually a team or two might pull away. I hope we’re one of them.”

Western Dubuque (10-1, 8-0) and Cedar Rapids Kennedy (7-2, 5-1) have separated from the rest of the Valley Division.

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Area high school softball Super Ten and standings (June 5, 2024)

Quite a comeback for Independence

As of last Thursday, Independence was 0-7.

But the Mustangs have awoken with five wins in their last six games, including a remarkable Game 1 comeback Monday against Benton Community.

Trailing 9-1 entering the bottom of the seventh, Indee tallied nine times to win it, with Leah House’s double knocking in the winning run.

North Linn and Midland: Sisters of steal

When North Linn and Midland met Tuesday (the Lynx won, 11-8), it was a matchup of the state’s two most prolific running teams.

Though it sports a modest 5-8 record, Midland runs at will; the Eagles have stolen 112 bases in 113 tries. Junior Mollie Ries is 34 of 34.

The reigning 1A state champion, North Linn (12-3) is 88 of 90 in theft attempts. Northern Iowa recruit Skylar Benesh has swiped 23 bases in 24 tries.

Lone Tree is the last area unbeaten

Eleven unbeaten teams remain statewide, just one in the area.

It’s Lone Tree.

The Lions (5-0) are pursuing their first winning season since 2014. They are batting .436 as a team and averaging 13.4 runs per game and allowing 1.6 per contest. They whipped WACO, 18-0, Tuesday.

Lone Tree has compiled a .962 fielding percentage.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com