Thursday’s best: 5 area Iowa high school softball regional games to watch (July 11, 2024)

As you knew it would, the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union successfully split the Class 3A softball powerhouses in Eastern Iowa.

It took some geographic creativity — and in Benton Community’s case, some extremely unfamiliar opponents — but the Union has placed the top five 3A teams in different regions.

Regional quarterfinals are Thursday in 3A (a full bracket), 4A and 5A.

Top-ranked Benton (28-7) welcomes Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (2-20), which will make a 140-mile trip to Van Horne for a game that might be over quickly.

Among the other 3A heavyweights, No. 2 Williamsburg (27-12 and defending state champion) hosts Davis County (8-21), No. 3 Dubuque Wahlert (26-10) welcomes North Fayette Valley (13-16), No. 4 Mount Vernon (29-11) hosts Union Community (4-21) and No. 5 Davenport Assumption (22-12) welcomes Tipton (4-19).

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

Waterloo West (11-20) at Iowa City High (14-22)

Class 5A Region 7

They played to a split exactly a month ago, with the Wahawks prevailing in the opener 5-4, then the Little Hawks claiming a 16-10 nightcap slugfest. City has won four of its last five games, seven of its last 11. Sophomore Molly Carlson (.355) has blasted 10 home runs. West is hitting a modest .273 as a team. The winner plays at Ankeny (19-20) on Friday.

Cedar Rapids Washington (1-33) at Linn-Mar (18-19)

Class 5A Region 8

You have to go back to pre-Bound days (before 2009) to locate Washington’s last win over Linn-Mar, a streak that encompasses at least 37 games. It was 11-2 and 13-1 in the Lions’ wins June 4. The victor advances to face Cedar Rapids Kennedy (23-15) on Friday, and the Lions and Cougars split last week. Linn-Mar senior Anna Kaliban has posted a 15-8 pitching mark this season, and sophomore Abby Mecklenburg has transitioned nicely into softball after a state long jump title in May, hitting .387 with 40 runs.

Marion (19-14) at Waverly-Shell Rock (21-7)

Class 4A Region 7

Five of six teams in this region are above .500, and this matchup is as good as any statewide Thursday. Marion has won seven of its last eight games and was the Wamac East runner-up, a game behind Mount Vernon. The Wolves’ reward is a first-round road trip to face the Northeast Iowa Conference champion. WSR claimed that with a 1-0 victory over Charles City on Monday, its 11th win in the last 12 games. Marion senior Michaela Goad (a Gazette Female Athlete of the Year finalist) is hitting .485 with 10 home runs and 43 runs. The winner plays at Western Dubuque (28-9) on Friday.

Monticello (11-21) at Center Point-Urbana (14-18)

Class 3A Region 6

In a scheduling quirk, this will be the third game between these teams in a 72-hour span. Center Point-Urbana recorded a Monday sweep, 10-1 and 6-2. That ended a stretch of 12 losses in its previous 16 games. Junior Mya Hillers (.367) leads the Stormin’ Pointers in hitting and is likely to get the call in the pitching circle. Watch the speed of Monticello senior Lauren Verhagen (four triples, 16 stolen bases). The likely reward for the winner is a regional-semifinal trip to Mount Vernon (29-11) on Friday.

Vinton-Shellsburg (12-26) at Solon (15-24)

Class 3A Region 6

Vinton-Shellsburg has reason for optimism in this one. First, the Vikettes are 4-0 in July and carry a five-game win streak. Also, they earned a split with Solon in the regular season, after suffering 19 consecutive losses to the Spartans. Solon’s record is a bit misleading; the Spartans have faced the third-toughest schedule in 3A. Junior Addie Miller is hitting .385 with four home runs and 25 RBIs. If form holds, the victor will play at West Liberty (20-10) on Friday.

Thursday’s complete area schedule

CLASS 5A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 3

Davenport West (16-19) at Davenport Central (13-18)

Region 6

Bettendorf (17-15) at Dubuque Hempstead (17-16)

Region 7

Waterloo West (11-20) at Iowa City High (14-22)

Region 8

Cedar Rapids Washington (1-33) at Linn-Mar (18-19)

CLASS 4A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 5

Fort Madison (13-18) at Keokuk (11-18)

Oskaloosa (12-21) at Knoxville (10-13)

Region 6

Ballard (10-19) at Newton (15-16)

South Tama (0-30) at Pella (19-11)

Region 7

Marion (19-14) at Waverly-Shell Rock (21-7)

Decorah (10-17) at Charles City (24-5)

Region 8

Clinton (2-32) at Maquoketa (11-22)

Mount Pleasant (3-27) at DeWitt Central (8-26)

CLASS 3A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 3

Davis County (8-21) at No. 2 Williamsburg (27-12)

Centerville (14-10) at Saydel (13-14)

Mid-Prairie (7-23) at Chariton (14-9)

Fairfield (10-25) at No. 12 Albia (18-12)

Region 4

Clarion CGD (2-20) at No. 1 Benton Community (28-7)

Roland-Story (7-23) at Grinnell (16-17)

Ida Grove OABCIG (5-15) at Eagle Grove (15-7)

Cherokee (7-19) at Southeast Valley (16-9)

Region 6

Union Community (4-21) at No. 4 Mount Vernon (29-11)

Monticello (11-21) at Center Point-Urbana (14-18)

Anamosa (8-19) at No. 11 West Liberty (20-10)

Vinton-Shellsburg (12-26) at Solon (15-24)

Region 7

North Fayette Valley (13-17) at No. 3 Dubuque Wahlert (26-10)

Crestwood (12-15) at West Delaware (15-20)

Waukon (8-19) at New Hampton (13-12)

Oelwein (10-16) at Independence (20-18)

Region 8

Tipton (4-19) at No. 5 Davenport Assumption (22-12)

Mediapolis (10-10) at West Burlington-Notre Dame (24-8)

Midland (12-24) at No. 13 Washington (23-11)

Camanche (6-16) at No. 15 Central Lee (23-10)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com