Thursday’s best: 5 area Iowa high school softball regional games to watch

Who’s hot? Well, Independence, for one.

Once sagging, the Mustangs (18-22) are surging into the postseason. They have won eight of their last 11 games heading into Thursday’s Class 4A regional quarterfinal at Marion (15-20).

In 4A and 5A, most of the top area teams get started Saturday, but the Indee-Marion matchup provides an evenly matched quarterfinal.

In 3A, everybody is three games away from the state tournament. Squads like No. 1 Williamsburg and defending-champion Mount Vernon are heavily favored to advance.

Here are five of Thursday’s best matchups involving area teams:

Charles City (18-15) at Decorah (17-15)

Class 4A Region 8

These teams split a doubleheader Monday, with Decorah wrapping up sole possession of the Northeast Iowa Conference title. Decorah basketball star Bryar Duwe shines in the summer, too; she is hitting .384, and leads the Vikings in both runs (36) and RBIs (23). The winner travels to No. 8 Western Dubuque (27-9) for a regional semifinal Saturday.

Independence (18-22) at Marion (15-20)

Class 4A Region 8

The Mustangs and the Wolves split a doubleheader June 26 at Marion, part of a momentum-building run for Indee, which has won eight of its last 11. Both teams possess a prolific slugger: Indee’s Marleigh Louvar (.467, 31 runs, 33 RBIs) has 21 extra-base hits, including eight home runs. Marion counters with Michaela Goad (.486, 7 HR, 32 runs, 34 RBIs). The winner travels to No. 13 Maquoketa (25-7) for a regional semifinal Saturday.

Mid-Prairie (16-20) at Center Point-Urbana (18-17)

Class 3A Region 6

This amounts to a 4-vs.-5 game in 3A Region 6, and if their meeting June 24 is any indication, it should be a dandy. CPU built a 6-1 lead in that one before hanging on, 6-5. The teams are quite similar statistically, both scoring a shade under 6 runs per game and allowing just under 5. And both pitching staffs have struck out 136 batters.

West Delaware (16-22) at No. 9 Solon (22-13)

Class 3A Region 7

Don’t expect an old-school, 1-0 pitchers’ duel in this one. When these Wamac Conference East Division foes collided June 26, West Delaware earned a sweep (8-7 and 10-7), knocking Solon out of title contention. Led by Hilary Wilson (.462), the Spartans are capable of big things offensively, averaging 7.1 runs per game. Hayley Vaske paces the Hawks at .483, with six home runs.

Anamosa (12-17) at Monticello (18-14)

Class 3A Region 8

These teams were part of a three-way tie for fourth place in the River Valley Conference North Division, and one of them will separate itself — and survive — Thursday. Monticello captured a head-to-head sweep, 1-0 and 9-7, on June 1. One of the Panthers’ tasks is to keep Dilynn Van Meter (10 home runs) and Emily Watters (8 HR, .506) from leaving the yard. Watters also is the Raiders’ pitcher, and has amassed 170 strikeouts this season.

Thursday’s complete area schedule

CLASS 5A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 5

Marshalltown (11-26) at West Des Moines Dowling (11-27)

Region 6

Cedar Rapids Washington (3-33) at Cedar Rapids Prairie (21-18)

Region 7

Iowa City West (1-34) at Iowa City High (10-24)

CLASS 4A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 7

Clinton (2-28) at DeWitt Central (8-24)

South Tama (0-30) at Clear Creek Amana (18-16)

Region 8

Charles City (18-15) at Decorah (17-15)

Independence (18-22) at Marion (15-20)

CLASS 3A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 5

Union Community (5-14) at No. 1 Williamsburg (30-9)

Garner GHV (6-17) at Hampton-Dumont/CAL (7-16)

Iowa Falls-Alden (2-18) at No. 14 Grinnell (20-13)

Forest City (4-17) at Clear Lake (11-13)

Region 6

Vinton-Shellsburg (9-24) at No. 3 Mount Vernon (25-10)

Mid-Prairie (16-20) at Center Point-Urbana (18-17)

Oelwein (12-15) at No. 11 Benton Community (25-14)

New Hampton (11-13) at Sumner-Fredericksburg (25-6)

Region 7

North Fayette Valley (19-13) at No. 6 Dubuque Wahlert (28-8)

Crestwood (14-16) at Waukon (15-14)

West Delaware (16-22) at No. 9 Solon (22-13)

Anamosa (12-17) at Monticello (18-14)

Region 8

Camanche (10-14) at No. 2 Davenport Assumption (29-6)

Central Lee (21-8) at Washington (23-12)

Columbus Community (11-9) at No. 15 West Liberty (19-11)

Fairfield (13-14) at West Burlington (21-11)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com