Surging Cedar Rapids Xavier hits the road for softball postseason opener

Mount Mercy University has been a generous temporary host to Cedar Rapids Xavier’s summer sports as the school rebuilds its facilities after the 2020 derecho.

But a conflict has the Saints hitting the road Thursday.

“Mount Mercy has a youth program on Thursday nights, with guest speakers and a lot of kids,” Xavier softball coach Nikki Gahring said. “It just wasn’t going to work out.”

So despite a state ranking (No. 14) and a superior record (22-17, compared to 11-25), the Saints will be trekking east for their Class 4A regional quarterfinal against DeWitt Central. First pitch is 7 p.m.

“I fully anticipate a good matchup,” Gahring said. “They are a lot like us, playing in a tough conference with a lot of good 5A teams. I think we can score runs on them, but we need all three aspects going ... our pitching and defense, too.”

Xavier was 5-12 in mid-June, but the schedule eased and the Saints’ play improved, and the result was a second-half mark of 17-5.

“Our schedule was tough at the start, and we were working to find who we are,” Gahring said. “We have some young kids in our lineup, and we found the best combination for us.”

Six starters are hitting .350 or better, and the Saints have a healthy team average of .334. Duanna Coyle is hitting .439; Briona Charipar (.392) leads the team with 43 RBIs.

Xavier finished fourth in the MVC Valley Division. Central was eighth in its first year as a Mississippi Athletic Conference member but owns a three-game winning streak, including 7-6 over Solon on Monday.

Thursday’s winner plays at No. 8 Clear Creek Amana (27-9) in a regional semifinal Saturday.

The Saints are the lone area ranked team in action in Thursday’s 4A and 5A first-rounders.

Elsewhere in 4A, Decorah (17-7) hosts Dubuque Wahlert (2-29) and Washington, Iowa (20-16) visits Oskaloosa (19-14).

Decorah was the Northeast Iowa Conference runner-up and has won 10 of its last 12 games.

In 5A, Cedar Rapids Washington (0-39) is at Marshalltown (5-29) and Iowa City West (13-22) travels to Ottumwa (23-15).

The Warriors are seeking their first win since June 15, 2019.

Thursday’s Class 5A regional quarterfinals

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 5

Waterloo West (7-29) at Cedar Falls (23-16)

Region 6

Cedar Rapids Washington (0-39) at Marshalltown (5-29)

Region 8

Iowa City West (13-22) at Ottumwa (23-15)

Thursday’s Class 4A regional quarterfinals

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 6

Washington (20-16) at Oskaloosa (19-14)

Fort Madison (13-19) at Burlington (20-13)

Region 7

Dubuque Wahlert (2-29) at Decorah (17-7)

Waverly-Shell Rock (12-17) at Charles City (23-11)

Region 8

Cedar Rapids Xavier (22-17) at DeWitt Central (11-25)

Clinton (9-20) at North Scott (15-20)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com