Iowa high school softball 2025 regional finals: A look at Tuesday’s area 5A, 4A and 3A games

A year later, Coach Robin Brand can still recite the long list of injuries that short-circuited Mount Vernon’s 2024 softball postseason.

“You look at us last year, and our pitcher had a broken foot, our catcher and shortstop had broken thumbs, our first baseman had a hyperextended arm, we had some stuff in the outfield,” she said.

It was a lot. And Center Point-Urbana, in the Class 3A regional semifinals, turned out to be too much, dealing the Mustangs a season-ending defeat.

Third-ranked Mount Vernon (27-11) hosts No. 13 CPU (24-12) again Tuesday. This time, it’s a 3A regional final. And this time, the Mustangs are healthy.

“We have more speed and power than we did last year,” Brand said. This team can do anything. They can play unstoppable softball.“

The CPU-Mount Vernon encounter is one of 12 regional finals Tuesday that involve area teams.

Also in 3A, No. 2 Williamsburg (32-7) — the two-time defending state champion — welcomes Eagle Grove (17-10), No. 8 West Delaware (25-11) travels to No. 1 Dubuque Wahlert (34-7), No. 7 West Liberty (21-7) hosts West Marshall (23-10), and No. 10 Washington (28-9) takes aim at No. 4 Davenport Assumption (24-13) on the road.

In 4A, No. 1 Cedar Rapids Xavier (36-5) welcomes No. 15 Bondurant-Farrar (24-9), No. 7 Clear Creek Amana (28-11) entertains No. 10 North Scott (28-11), and No. 9 Western Dubuque (30-11) goes to No. 8 Fort Dodge (27-12).

And in 5A, No. 2 Linn-Mar (32-6) hosts Iowa City Liberty (18-19), No. 11 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (24-16) travels to No. 4 Ankeny Centennial (31-9), No. 12 Iowa City High (23-14) heads to No. 7 Cedar Falls (29-9) and Cedar Rapids Jefferson (16-24) travels to West Des Moines Dowling (14-18) in a battle of unranked squads.

Winners advance to the state tournament next week at the Rogers Sports Complex, Fort Dodge.

Mount Vernon and CPU split a doubleheader June 9.

“They are a fast, quick team,” Brand said of the Stormin’ Pointers. “We’ve got to do everything we can to keep them off the bases.”

Xavier came into the season with lofty goals, and to this point, the Saints have more than met expectations.

“We had some pieces that we had to tighten up, and those pieces have fallen into place,” Coach Nikki Gahring said.

“Our first goal is to get (to state). If we can take care of business (Tuesday), we’ll regroup and think about the next one.”

Xavier pitcher Braylen Conlon is 25-0 with a 0.39 ERA, while batterymate Katie Pilcher has delivered 21 home runs.

Tuesday’s Class 5A regional finals (all 7 p.m.)

Iowa City Liberty (18-19) at No. 2 Linn-Mar (32-6)

On the heels of a 4-2 regional-semifinal win over No. 14 Des Moines Roosevelt, Iowa City Liberty is on the brink of its first state-softball berth in history. Standing between the Bolts and Fort Dodge is a formidable Linn-Mar outfit, led by senior pitcher Emily Koranda (16-3, 0.81 ERA; .429, 6 HR), a Missouri State signee. The Lions blanked Davenport North, 3-0, on Saturday, thanks to Kaylie Alvey’s three RBIs. Linn-Mar swept Liberty in a mid-June twinbill, 5-0 and 7-5. A member of Iowa City Regina’s 2023 2A state-title team, senior Kennedy Conner is hitting .406 for Liberty.

No. 11 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (24-16) at No. 4 Ankeny Centennial (31-9)

Once spiraling at 2-9, Kennedy has regrouped with a vengeance. The Cougars have bounced back with 22 wins in their last 29 games. Kennedy’s 2-0 regional-semifinal win over Waterloo West marked its fourth consecutive shutout victory. Freshman catcher Dylan Amling (.404) is on a power tear; she is up to 14 home runs and 49 RBIs. Junior Lily Knutson is 15-5 with a 1.78 ERA. Behind budding superstar Jordyn Kennedy — the eighth-grader is hitting .550 with 20 homers and 57 RBIs — Centennial is after its fourth state berth in six years. The Jaguars won it all in 2023.

No. 12 Iowa City High (23-14) at No. 7 Cedar Falls (29-9)

Hard to believe, but Cedar Falls has never advanced to the state softball tournament. The Tigers swept City High in a pair of close ones (5-4 and 7-5) on June 23, and this one promises to go down to the wire, too. City outlasted Dubuque Hempstead in an eight-inning regional semifinal, 5-4. Senior Lianna Hull is hitting a team-high .456, while freshman Iyana Merino (12 HR) and junior Molly Carlson (10) provide the power. Junior Amanda Finck (.491, 10 HR, 49 RBIs) and senior Sydney Runyan (.367, 10 HR, 48 RBIs) have slugged Cedar Falls to perhaps its best season ever.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson (16-24) at West Des Moines Dowling (14-18)

Talk about a blast from the past. Jefferson and Dowling have combined for 39 state appearances, but the J-Hawks haven’t been to Fort Dodge since 2018, and the Maroons’ last appearance was in 2017. Jefferson pulled a minor regional-semifinal upset, 3-1, at No. 13 Cedar Rapids Prairie. Dowling’s 12-4 triumph at No. 6 Johnston was even more substantial. The Maroons are on a six-game win streak. Jefferson’s Morgan Hewitt, a Coe College commit, can beat you in the circle (12-13, 2.37 ERA, 88-to-12 K-vs.-BB), or at the plate (.422, 7 HR, 34 RBIs).

State

Ottumwa (22-13) at No. 1 Waukee Northwest (36-5)

Ankeny (13-26) at No. 3 Southeast Polk (30-10)

Waukee (14-22) at No. 5 West Des Moines Valley (28-11)

No. 10 Muscatine (26-10) at No. 8 Pleasant Valley (29-9)

Tuesday’s Class 4A regional finals (all 7 p.m.)

No. 15 Bondurant-Farrar (24-9) at No. 1 Cedar Rapids Xavier (36-5)

Behind its highly charged battery, Xavier is on the brink of its first state-tournament trip since 2018. The MVC Mississippi Division champion Saints are 25-0 when senior Braylen Conlon is in the circle; the Western Kentucky signee boasts a 0.39 ERA and 279 strikeouts in 143 innings. Senior catcher Katie Pilcher has smacked 21 home runs with 55 RBIs, while Conlon is hitting .482 and has scored 55 times. Bondurant-Farrar tied for third in a strong Raccoon River Conference and blanked Independence, 3-0, in the regional semifinals behind senior Chloe Thurlby’s 13-strikeout two-hitter.

No. 10 North Scott (28-11) at No. 7 Clear Creek Amana (28-11)

No program in the state can match the perennial success that Clear Creek Amana has enjoyed (35 state appearances, including nine championships). The Clippers are slight favorites Tuesday to reach Fort Dodge for the second time since 2014. They own a seven-game win streak, though their 8-7 regional-semifinal victory over Maquoketa was quite tenuous. Junior Kyle Schulte is hitting with nine home runs, 49 RBIs and 37 runs scored. North Scott finished third in 4A last year, and brings back eight starters from that team. Both pitchers — Cadey Bredar and Chevelle Kingsley — are 14-5.

No. 9 Western Dubuque (30-11) at No. 8 Fort Dodge (27-12)

In Western Dubuque’s perfect world, the Bobcats will make the 171-mile trip to Fort Dodge on Tuesday, then make it again next week for the state tournament. The Bobcats are a recent regular at state; a win will get them there for the fourth time in five years under Rex Massey. Freshman Lauren Vaske (15-4, 1.28 ERA) has emerged as the No. 1 pitcher, while Kyla Ramler (9 HR, 37 RBI) swings a powerful bat. Fort Dodge seeks its seventh consecutive state appearance and shared the Iowa Alliance North Division title with Ames. Sophomore Hope Alstott hits .440, has scored 58 runs and has stolen 45 bases.

State

Oskaloosa (15-20) at No. 2 Norwalk (32-7)

Boone (21-13) at No. 3 North Polk (33-5)

No. 12 Creston (32-6) at No. 4 Dallas Center-Grimes (32-7)

No. 14 Sergeant Bluff-Luton (33-6) at No. 5 Adel ADM (26-8)

Gilbert (18-15) at Pella (21-12)

Tuesday’s Class 3A regional finals (7 p.m. unless noted)

No. 8 West Delaware (25-11) at No. 1 Dubuque Wahlert (34-7), 5 p.m.

This is an unfortunate regional-final draw, for both teams. It certainly isn’t the gimme that you’d expect for a No. 1 team like Wahlert, and if the regionals were redrawn, West Delaware probably would be hosting. Nonetheless, the Hawks are chasing their first state berth since 2020. They have won five in a row, including a 7-3 regional-semifinal win over Crestwood. Nine different players have homered, led by Susie Funke (8 HR, 32 RBIs). MVC Valley Division champion Wahlert goes after its fourth straight state appearance. Junior Julia Roth has had a monster season: .492, with 22 homers and 60 RBIs.

Eagle Grove (17-10) at No. 2 Williamsburg (32-7)

With nine consecutive wins, Williamsburg is on its usual July surge. The Raiders got past Benton Community, 3-2, in the previous round thanks to a much-needed two-run home run by Alley Gorsh. That was her sixth bomb of the season, matching Taylor Sanchez for the team lead. Both are hitting in the neighborhood of .450. The Raiders are favored to reach their sixth consecutive state tournament; their 2023 and 2024 seasons ended with 3A championships. Eagle Grove’s 17 wins are its most since 2015. Senior Addyson Jeske is hitting .522 with a team-high 34 runs.

No. 13 Center Point-Urbana (24-12) at No. 3 Mount Vernon (27-11)

CPU is hoping for a postseason replay after knocking the Mustangs out of last year’s bracket. The teams split a doubleheader June 9, with the Mustangs taking the opener, 6-4, then the Stormin’ Pointers winning the nightcap, 8-7. Mount Vernon sophomore pitcher Hayden Gookin has compiled a 21-4 record with a sub-1 ERA and 237 strikeouts, while hitting .393 with a team-high 36 RBIs. CPU is on an eight-game win streak, scoring 80 runs in that span. Senior Mya Hillers is 12-7 in the circle while delivering seven home runs and 31 RBIs. Sophomore Grace Estling (.439) is 22 of 23 in stolen bases.

No. 10 Washington (28-9) at No. 4 Davenport Assumption (24-13)

Washington has an opportunity to snap Assumption’s streak of state appearances at nine (the Knights have finished in the top three in all nine of those appearances). If the Demons can break through, it would be their first state appearance since 2013. They won their first two regional games by a combined 32-0. Senior Isabella Salazar owns a 14-3 pitching mark, while junior Leighton Salazar (.539) is a menace on the basepaths (53 of 56 steal attempts, 58 runs). Same goes for Assumption freshman Sophia Caudle: .557 with 53 runs and 62 steals in 63 attempts.

West Marshall (23-10) at No. 7 West Liberty (21-7)

When West Liberty senior Pearson Hall gets something to hit, she regularly delivers, and sometimes with a bang. The Drake University recruit is hitting .622, owns an on-base percentage of .684 and her 15 home runs help boost her slugging to 1.476, third-highest in the state. The Comets rolled through the first two rounds of the tournament by a combined 17-1, with Mallory Wulf pitching a four-hit shutout against Roland-Story. West Marshall held on to knock off No. 14 Chariton, 7-6, in the previous round behind senior Jillian Karsjen’s three hits, two runs and two RBIs.

State

Centerville (18-10) at No. 5 Albia (27-3)

No. 11 Missouri Valley (29-6) at No. 6 Monroe PCM (24-4)

No. 15 Algona (20-6) at No. 9 Estherville ELC (22-7)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com