Tracking the conference softball races, and saluting the champions

Other than the matter of the Mississippi Valley Conference supremacy, everything is pretty much settled in area conference softball races.

Cedar Rapids Xavier and Linn-Mar will take the MVC Mississippi Division race to the wire. Both teams face fairly stiff challenges tonight, and Linn-Mar has another Monday.

Meanwhile, Dubuque Wahlert owns the MVC Valley Division crown, and can lay claim to no worse than a share of the league’s best record.

The following is a look at the area races, and a salute to the champions — some of which are quite familiar.

MVC Mississippi Division

Xavier (32-5, 22-4) has a slight advantage on Linn-Mar (28-5, 20-4), based on remaining strength of schedule.

The Saints conclude MVC play at Bob Erusha Field tonight with a doubleheader against Iowa City Liberty. Linn-Mar has two road twinbills, against Western Dubuque tonight and against Cedar Falls on Monday.

Linn-Mar is in pursuit of its third divisional crown in the last four years.

MVC Valley Division

Wahlert (32-6, 24-4) has captured its third consecutive divisional title; the Golden Eagles were Mississippi Division champions in 2023 and 2024.

Wamac East Division

Mount Vernon (25-11, 16-6) earned its fifth consecutive East title Tuesday with a home split against West Delaware. The Mustangs finish a game in front of the Hawks.

Wamac West Division

For the seventh year in a row, Williamsburg (28-7, 21-1) rules the West. The Raiders closed strong with sweeps this week against season-long contenders Clear Creek Amana and Grinnell.

River Valley North Division

By virtue of Monday’s sweep of Anamosa, Cascade (17-8, 10-2) is the champion. The Cougars finished a game ahead of Dyersville Beckman, two ahead of Anamosa.

River Valley South Division

West Liberty (18-6, 10-0) beat rival Durant by counts of 9-2 (Monday) and 5-0 (Tuesday) to claim the crown. Mallory Wulf pitched a no-hitter in Tuesday’s clincher.

Tri-Rivers East Division

Lisbon (22-12, 19-4) reigns in the East for the ninth consecutive year. The Lions built a five-game margin over up-and-comer Bellevue Marquette.

Tri-Rivers West Division

As usual, the West is the deeper division, and Edgewood-Colesburg (31-7, 22-2) owns its first league title since 2006. The Vikings are overall Tri-Rivers champions.

South Iowa Cedar

Despite the graduation of Carly Goodwin, Sigourney (16-7, 15-1) remains the SICL pacesetter for the fifth year in a row. The Savages edged North Mahaska by one game.

Upper Iowa

Tied with North Fayette Valley coming into Wednesday’s doubleheader, Lansing Kee (26-11, 15-1) swept the TigerHawks to edge South Winneshiek (last year’s champion) by one game.

And elsewhere ...

* Washington (24-8, 13-1) is the class of the Southeast Conference. The Demons took control with an early-season sweep of Burlington, and never looked back.

* The final Northeast Iowa race will be determined early next week by Crestwood (16-6, 8-1) and Charles City (14-13, 7-2).

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com