Iowa high school softball regional rewind: 4 area 2A/1A teams earn state bids

Iowa City Regina is back to defend.

Lisbon and North Linn intend to contend, again.

As for dark horses ... why not Sigourney?

Four area softball teams passed through the small-school regional-final phase Monday, advancing to next week’s state tournament at the Rogers Sports Complex, Fort Dodge.

Here’s a review:

Regina: No stress this time

Class 2A No. 1 Regina scored two runs in each of the first three innings and handled Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, 6-2, at home.

“When we scored in the first inning, I thought, ‘Game over,’” pitcher Ashley Webb said.

It was a vast departure from the Regals’ previous game, in which they needed a run in the sixth inning and two in the seventh to dodge unranked Cardinal, 3-2.

“It was super nice, having a stress-free game,” said Alli Clark, the Regals’ No. 9 hitter, who supplied a two-run single in the third inning to stretch the lead to 6-1. “It was super important to have people hit throughout the lineup, and to keep each other hyped up.”

Reigning 2A state champions, the Regals (27-8) return to state for the 11th time, the 10th in the past 15 years.

Due to the fact that one game (Waterloo Columbus at Central Springs) was suspended due to rain, 2A state brackets won’t be released until tonight.

As the No. 1 seed, it’s likely that the Regals will play their first-round game at 1 p.m. Tuesday against No. 12 Northeast or No. 14 Waterloo Columbus.

“It was really important to score right away,” Dani Laughlin said. “Last game, we didn’t, and it prevented us from playing to our full potential.”

A senior outfielder headed to Texas State University, Laughlin is an extremely tough out. After Monday’s 2-for-3 performance (with a walk), her batting average is .612 (No. 4 in the state, all classes) and her on-base rate is in the neighborhood of .670.

One more shot for Lisbon’s seniors

Lisbon’s 11-1, five-inning win over South Winneshiek in a 2A regional final at Bob Bunting Field means it’s six consecutive state appearances for Lisbon, and six seniors have been key in most of them.

“It’s very special. We’re all just very thankful we’ve had the opportunity to go, since there are so many teams that don’t get to go,” first baseman Ella Clark said.

“That’s a ton of games we’ve played. You don’t really think about it until at the end, but this was our last time playing here, and it’s crazy to me that I’ll never play here again. It went by so fast. You blinked, and it was gone.”

Recommended Reading

A great senior class leads Lisbon softball team back to state

No. 4 Lisbon (34-7) scored three times in the second inning and twice more in the third to take a 5-0 lead. Six runs in the bottom of the fifth ended things early.

North Linn, Sigourney to collide

In Class 1A, No. 2 North Linn (36-6) and No. 8 Sigourney (26-4) set up a first-round state encounter; they’ll meet at 7 p.m. next Tuesday.

Despite the absence of pitcher Ellie Flanagan (ankle), the Lynx pulled away from Calamus-Wheatland, 17-7, at Troy Mills, thanks to two home runs by Skylar Benesh, who was 3-for-5 with five RBIs.

North Linn will play at state for the fifth straight year.

Sigourney, meanwhile, ended Twin Cedars’ championship reign, 2-1, at home behind Carly Goodwin’s 16-strikeout four-hitter.

Monday’s Iowa high school softball regional finals

CLASS 2A

West Monona 7, North Union 6

Missouri Valley 8, Sioux Central 4

Van Meter 10, Pocahontas Area 0

Interstate 35 2, South Hardin 1

Central Springs vs. Waterloo Columbus, suspended (rain)

Lisbon 11, South Winneshiek 1

Iowa City Regina 6, Eddyville EBF 2

Northeast 5, Wilton 1

CLASS 1A

Remsen St. Mary’s 10, Logan-Magnolia 0

Fort Dodge St. Edmond 11, Newell-Fonda 1

Southeast Warren 3, Exira-EHK 0

Wayne 5, Griswold 4

Martesndale-St. Marys 4, Collins-Maxwell 0

Clarksville 12, Saint Ansgar 2

North Linn 17, Calamus-Wheatland 7

Sigourney 2, Twin Cedars 1

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com