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

Shortstop Michaela Goad (left) and Marion head to Solon on Thursday for a Class 4A regional quarterfinal with the Spartans. The teams split a doubleheader last week. (The Gazette)

That Wamac Conference softball doubleheader split that Marion and Solon battled through last week? That was a mere dress rehearsal.

This one counts.

Marion returns to Solon on Thursday, and the stakes are high. It’s a Class 4A regional quarterfinal. And it’s one of the most attractive games in the area as the 4A and 5A postseason kicks off.

Here are five of the area’s best matchups Thursday:

Cedar Falls (22-13) at Cedar Rapids Kennedy (23-15)

Class 5A Region 5

Kennedy begins pursuit of a fourth consecutive state-tournament appearance, a run highlighted by a 5A championship in 2020. But the Cougars have an extremely perilous first-round matchup against a Cedar Falls outfit that won 11 of its last 12 regular-season games behind senior pitcher Cyrah Rasmussen (14-4, 2.12 ERA). The teams split a pair of close games June 13. Key bats for the Cougars include senior Keaton Gerber (.405, 17 doubles, 30 RBIs) and junior Addy Alber (.326, 4 HR, 26 RBIs). The winner plays at Ankeny (26-12) in a regional semifinal Saturday.

Dubuque Senior (20-19) at Cedar Rapids Prairie (21-17)

Class 5A Region 7

Prairie swept a June 2 twinbill from Senior by verdicts of 10-0 and 6-0, but this is no gimme for the Hawks. Prairie has a powerful lineup that has poked 31 home runs, led by seniors Jensyn Jones (10) and Alexis Barden (nine). Barden is hitting .489 and has scored 48 runs; Jones leads the Hawks with 42 RBIs. Junior Dani Klees (11-9, 2.60 ERA) is likely to get the call in the circle. Senior has a .400 hitter in sophomore Lacey King, who also has eight homers and 29 RBIs. The winner advances to play Dubuque Hempstead (28-6) on Saturday.

Newton (13-18) at Cedar Rapids Xavier (20-18)

Class 4A Region 6

Which Xavier team will show up for the postseason? The one that started 5-11, or the one that went on a midseason 12-game win streak? The one that followed that with a 1-7 slump, or the one that ended the regular season with eye-opening wins over North Linn and Clear Creek Amana? The Saints have some dangerous pop in the middle of the order in junior Duanna Coyle and freshman Katie Pilcher (a combined nine home runs and 57 RBIs). Newton has lost seven straight, but hails from the strong Little Hawkeye Conference. The victor plays at Norwalk (27-7) on Saturday.

Marion (20-17) at Solon (20-15)

Class 4A Region 7

The Wolves and the Spartans return to the site of their regular-season encounter last week, one that didn’t decide much. Marion won the first game of that doubleheader, 6-3, then Solon claimed Game 2, 12-11. That left the teams in a tie for second place in the Wamac East with 12-10 league ledgers. Marion has an advantage in power; junior Peyton Johnson has belted 11 home runs, sophomore Michaela Goad has nine, and the Wolves have a total of 30. Goad is hitting .457 with 42 RBIs. The winner moves on to play Clear Creek Amana (28-8) Saturday at Oxford.

Maquoketa (22-16) at Decorah (15-6)

Class 4A Region 8

The victor gets a shot at defending 4A state champion Western Dubquue (22-16) Saturday at Farley. The fourth-place finisher in the Wamac Conference East Division, Maquoketa has strength of schedule on its side. The Cardinals also have the bats of the Hackman girls. Kalyn, a freshman, is hitting .425 with 29 RBIs; Clare, a junior, is at .354. Decorah’s girls athletics are on the rise these days, and junior Bryar Duwe has been a common denominator. She is hitting .433 with a team-high 31 runs. Eighth-grade pitcher Clara Hjelle has posted a 12-4 record.