The softball postseason has arrived, and you can’t spell ‘regionals’ without ‘R-e-g-i-n-a’

By now, we all know better, right?

Never count Iowa City Regina out in the postseason softball series.

Not if the Regals are relegated to playing in the first round. Not even if they are sub-.500.

Never.

The 2025 Iowa high school softball regional tournament opens Monday, and Regina (8-14) heads to Goose Lake for a Class 2A first-round battle with Northeast (17-13).

Regina has won seven of its last 10 games after a 1-11 start, and seriously ... would anybody be surprised if the Regals were a serious threat to make a hard push toward Fort Dodge?

First-round games are Monday in 2A and 1A, with the vast majority of games starting at 7 p.m. Winners advance to Wednesday regional quarterfinals.

Among other top games Monday:

* West Branch (9-15) travels to Waterloo Columbus (9-16) in Class 2A.

* In Class 1A, Iowa Valley (11-11) hosts South Iowa Cedar League rival Lynnville-Sully, and Tri-Rivers Conference siblings East Buchanan (7-20) and Springville (14-18) convene st Springville.

Monday’s Class 2A regional first round

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 5

West Branch (9-15) at Waterloo Columbus (9-16)

Iowa City Regina (8-14) at Northeast (17-13)

Region 7

Aplington-Parkersburg (3-21) at Denver (14-15)

Postville (1-16) at MFL MarMac (7-25)

Monday’s Class 1A regional first round

(7 p.m. unless noted)

Region 1

Twin Cedars (4-20) at Moravia (10-25)

Moulton-Udell (0-17) at Keota (10-8), 5 p.m.

Pekin (7-19) at Mormon Trail (5-9)

WACO (0-21) at Wapello (13-12)

Region 2

Saint Ansgar (9-18) at Turkey Valley (11-19)

Dunkerton (3-21) at West Central (7-16)

Rockford (9-12) at Nashua-Plainfield (4-20)

Northwood-Kensett (2-17) at North Iowa (6-13)

Region 4

Iowa Valley (11-11) at Lynnville-Sully (9-17)

Belle Plaine (1-22) at Melcher-Dallas (8-11)

Montezuma (5-12) at Hillcrest Academy (12-14)

English Valleys (6-13) at Highland (13-9)

Region 5

Clayton Ridge (8-13) at Starmont (6-21)

Easton Valley (1-23) at Calamus-Wheatland (19-15)

East Buchanan (7-20) at Springville (14-18)

Elkader Central (1-22) at Don Bosco (18-13)

Region 8

North Tama (5-13) at Madrid (8-20)

Guthrie Center ACGC (2-20) at Martensdale-St. Marys (15-13)

Colo-Nesco (4-21) at Ackley AGWSR (8-23)

Baxter (2-21) at Garwin GMG (10-9), 5 p.m.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com