Thursday’s best: 5 area Iowa high school softball regional games to watch (July 10, 2025)

There are no byes in the Class 3A postseason softball series, and there is no shortage of area hopefuls.

Six area teams are ranked in 3A, led by second-rated Williamsburg (30-7), the two-time defending champion.

Mount Vernon (25-11) is ranked No. 3, West Liberty (19-7) is No. 7. Like Williamsburg, both are set up as favorites to each the state tournament July 21-25 at Fort Dodge.

Other area rateds are No. 9 Washington (26-9), No. 11 West Delaware (23-11) and No. 15 Center Point-Urbana (22-12).

Of all of those teams, West Delaware faces the most challenging first-round hurdle, at home against slugger Sarah Dean and North Fayette Valley (16-17).

Thursday also means a few first-round games in 5A and 4A, with the better teams in those classes kicking it off Saturday.

Here are five of Thursday’s best 5A, 4A and 3A regional-quarterfinal matchups involving area teams:

Independence (13-26) at Marion (10-25)

Class 4A Region 1

The regular-season doubleheader June 30 between these Wamac Conference rivals was a split decision (Independence, 7-0; Marion, 5-2), and Thursday’s victor advances to play at No. 15 Bondurant-Farrar (23-8) on Saturday. Sophomore Lucy Turner leads Marion — which has won three of its last four games — in hitting at .382, and is likely to get the call in the pitching circle. Indee senior Kali Washburn owns a .488 on-base percentage, and is a team co-leader with 22 RBIs

Decorah (15-14) at Charles City (16-14)

Class 4A Region 8

Recency bias favors Charles City, which swept Decorah — 10-0 and 7-0 — in Tuesday’s Northeast Iowa Conference doubleheader. That allowed the Comets to finish second in the final NEIC race; Decorah was third. Lauren Luzum, a junior catcher/outfielder, paces the Vikings’ attack with a .376 average, eight home runs and 28 RBIs. Senior Emerson Bohlen is hitting .438 with a team-high 29 runs for the Comets. The winner heads to Epworth on Saturday for a regional-semifinal date with No. 9 Western Dubuque (29-9).

Sumner-Fredericksburg (25-10) at Oelwein (15-11)

Class 3A Region 1 (5 p.m.)

Regardless of outcome, Oelwein has fashioned its first winning season since 2009. That includes two triumphs in three tries against Sumner-Fredericksburg. Junior pitcher Aspen Weir (15-9) has handled the bulk of the pitching duties, racking up 187 strikeouts in 140 1/3 innings. She also leads the Huskies in RBIs (26). Sumner-Fredericksburg was a state-tournament team in 2024; the Cougars tied for seventh in 3A and bring back eight players from that squad.

North Fayette Valley (16-17) at No. 11 West Delaware (23-11)

Class 3A Region 1

The runner-up of the Wamac Conference East Division, West Delaware is gunning for its first state-tournament appearance since 2020, but it’s likely that the Hawks will have to get through No. 1 Dubuque Wahlert is get there. This will be the first encounter between these two teams since 2015. North Fayette Valley boasts one of the area’s top sluggers in senior Sarah Dean (.506, 16 HR, 57 RBIs, 45 runs). For West Delaware, freshman Kaci Reth is hitting a team-high .461, and also leads in RBIs with 32.

Anamosa (10-20) at Solon (16-19)

Class 3A Region 3

One of these teams is going to snap a losing streak and advance to a likely second-round battle Saturday at No. 3 Mount Vernon. Solon has dropped eight in a row, Anamosa five. Still, both squads are capable of some postseason magic. Senior Adalyn Miller (.417) leads the Spartans’ attack with six home runs and 30 RBIs. Anamosa was in the River Valley Conference North Division race until the final day of the season. Freshman Lauren Heying is hitting .444 with 26 RBIs.

Thursday’s complete area schedule

CLASS 5A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 2

Iowa City West (7-31) at Davenport North (17-22)

Region 3

Des Moines North (0-16) at Urbandale (9-27)

Region 5

Des Moines East (8-19) at West Des Moines Dowling (12-18)

Region 8

Cedar Rapids Washington (1-33) at Dubuque Senior (17-20), 5 p.m.

CLASS 4A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 1

Waterloo East (4-24) at Webster City (6-17)

Independence (13-26) at Marion (10-25)

Region 6

Maquoketa (15-21) at Burlington (13-13)

Clinton (4-28) at Central DeWitt (12-19)

Region 8

Mason City (8-23) at Waverly-Shell Rock (16-8)

Decorah (15-14) at Charles City (16-14)

CLASS 3A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(7 p.m. unless noted)

Region 1

Waukon (4-19) at No. 1 Dubuque Wahlert (32-7), 5 p.m.

Sumner-Fredericksburg (25-10) at Oelwein (15-11), 5 p.m.

North Fayette Valley (16-17) at No. 11 West Delaware (23-11)

New Hampton (15-13) at Crestwood (19-7)

Region 2

Vinton-Shellsburg (6-29) at No. 2 Williamsburg (30-7)

Iowa Falls-Alden (10-11) at Benton Community (17-14)

Clarion CGD (1-20) at Eagle Grove (15-10)

Garner GHV (9-16) at Humboldt (14-13)

Region 3

Union Community (2-22) at No. 3 Mount Vernon (25-11)

Anamosa (10-20) at Solon (16-19)

Hampton-Dumont/CAL (6-16) at No. 15 Center Point-Urbana (22-12)

Forest City (13-8) at Clear Lake (17-10)

Region 5

Camanche (5-19) at No. 5 Davenport Assumption (22-13)

West Burlington-Notre Dame (15-18) at Mediapolis (14-8)

Midland (6-25) at No. 9 Washington (26-9)

Monticello (8-21) at Central Lee (21-8)

Region 7

South Tama (1-26) at No. 7 West Liberty (19-7)

Mid-Prairie (7-21) at Roland-Story (11-14)

Saydel (2-23) at No. 14 Chariton (16-6)

Nevada (3-18) at West Marshall (21-10)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com