Alburnett poised to end North Linn’s 7-year Tri-Rivers West reign

Some things change; some remain the same. Such is the case in the Tri-Rivers Conference softball landscape.

Alburnett is on the verge of breaking North Linn’s seven-year run as West Division champion. Meanwhile, Lisbon has extended its East title reign to eight years in a row.

“We have goals, and of course the postseason is one of them,” second-year Alburnett coach Brenden Drahn said. “But this is important, too. To win a conference title, you’ve kind of got to bear down all season long.”

The veteran Pirates (27-5 overall, 18-2 Tri-Rivers) have locked in for the first five weeks of the season. If they sweep Midland on Wednesday night, they will nail down the West title.

Maturity helps. The roster contains seven seniors, including six that start. One of them, Savannah Caves, is the state RBI leader, with 64.

“She’s been different-level,” Drahn said. “She has the ability to hit the ball hard. And it’s a testament to the two girls (Gralynn Martin and Peyton Scott) in front of her.”

The majority of area league champions will be determined Wednesday and Thursday. Here is how the races look at the moment:

MVC Mississippi Division

The area’s most entertaining race should be resolved in the next two days.

Dubuque Wahlert (17-8, 12-5) and Iowa City Liberty (17-10, 12-5) share the divisional lead, and both have three games remaining. Wahlert will be heavily favored in its last three (two at Cedar Rapids Washington, one at Cedar Falls), while Liberty closes with one at Western Dubuque and two at home against Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

Cedar Rapids Xavier (23-10, 12-6) concludes its league slate Thursday with a home twinbill against Cedar Rapids Prairie. Dubuque Senior (19-11, 12-7) and Jefferson (18-12, 9-7) remain on the periphery of contention.

MVC Valley Division

Western Dubuque (23-5, 16-2) has wrapped up a share of the title, and wins it outright with at least one win in its last three league games.

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Wamac East Division

Heading into Wednesday’s league finales, Mount Vernon (27-9, 13-7) has a one-game lead over Marion (15-13, 12-8) and Solon (13-18, 12-8).

Mount Vernon travels to West Delaware for a tricky twinbill, Marion hosts Vinton-Shellsburg and Solon heads to Clear Creek Amana.

Wamac West Division

Williamsburg (24-6, 17-2) has a doubleheader at Grinnell on Wednesday, a single-game makeup with West Delaware next week, and a 1 1/2-game lead on Benton Community (24-6, 16-4).

Benton is at Center Point-Urbana on Wednesday.

River Valley North Division

Northeast (19-6, 8-0) wraps up the title if it sweeps Camanche at home Thursday.

River Valley South Division

Iowa City Regina (18-10, 14-2) simplified things by sweeping West Liberty on Monday.

The Regals have two games remaining — home against Tipton on Thursday, at Durant next Tuesday — and clinches a title share with one win and wins it outright with two.

Tri-Rivers East Division

With a new nucleus and a new coach, Lisbon (22-9, 15-5) reigns for the eighth consecutive year. The Lions wrap up league play with a doubleheader at Maquoketa Valley on Wednesday.

Tri-Rivers West Division

Alburnett will be heavily favored to clinch the West title — its first since 2016 — at home against Midland. If the Pirates trip up, North Linn (24-10, 17-3) looms a game back. The Lynx host Bellevue Marquette on Wednesday.

Northeast Iowa

Charles City (19-2, 9-1) and Waverly-Shell Rock (15-6, 9-1) split a doubleheader June 18, and the rubber match is a single game July 8 at Waverly.

South Iowa Cedar

Sigourney (18-6, 13-1) has clinched its fourth straight title. The Savages’ lone loss was a forfeit to Belle Plaine, and they’ve followed that with 13 league wins in a row.

Upper Iowa

Lansing Kee (15-11, 10-0) and South Winneshiek (14-11, 10-0) have six games left apiece, including a pivotal doubleheader Wednesday at Calmar.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com