High School Baseball and Softball

North Linn’s Nicole Miller (2015) and Ryan Miller (2018) were the area’s first sister-brother duo to earn Gazette Athlete of the Year honors.

Topanga Beauregard’s grand slam tilted a Class 5A regional softball opener Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s way as the Cougars edged Cedar Falls, 7-6.

Check out photos from Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s 7-6 win over Cedar Falls in a Class 5A Iowa high school softball regional quarterfinal game.

Linn-Mar and Cedar Rapids Washington are among the programs that have played well to close the regular season and will try to continue that in the Iowa high school baseball playoffs. Teams from across the state will begin the Class 3A and 4A substate competition with first-round games Friday.

Here are five Class 2A and Class 1A Iowa high school softball regional semifinal games to watch in the area Friday.

Matt Morrison, James Morris and Derrick Loveless were key components of a successful Solon stretch, amassing eight state team championships with three more runner-up finishes in five sports from 2006 through 2011. They were named Gazette Athletes of the Year in 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively.

Dave Johnson is back at Central City, and it’s a “breath of fresh air.” His Wildcats are still breathing after a fifth-inning comeback against Lansing Kee in the Class 1A regional quarterfinals.

Check out photos from Central City’s 6-2 win over Lansing Kee in a Class 1A Iowa high school softball regional quarterfinal game.