Iowa City Liberty Lightning

Iowa City Liberty was a No. 3 substate seed last season and earned a second straight state baseball tournament berth. The Lightning are a No. 1 seed in Class 4A Substate 8 and have the same focus as a year ago, looking for a third consecutive state appearance.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy closed the regular season as the No. 1 team in the final Class 4A poll by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association poll released Monday. Here is a look at the 3A and 4A rankings going into the postseason.

This week transitions from the end of the regular season for Class 3A and 4A to the postseason for all four classes. Class 1A and 2A will continue district play Tuesday and Saturday. Some intriguing matchups close the regular season with 3A and 4A substates beginning Friday.

A look at The Gazette’s final regular-season softball Super Ten and conference standings. Cedar Rapids Xavier climbs to second, behind MVC Valley Division champion Western Dubuque.

The weekly Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association statewide rankings has contained a large contingent of Mississippi Valley Conference teams. As the regular season winds, the MVC maintains a strong presence in the poll.

Prep softball: With a Thursday sweep of Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Iowa City Liberty pushes the MVC Mississippi Division race to the limit. Lightning and Cedar Rapids Xavier finish a game behind Dubuque Wahlert.

Class 5A 11th-ranked Iowa City Liberty swept Cedar Rapids Jefferson in an Iowa high school softball doubleheader Thursday night in North Liberty.

The pairings and paths for high school baseball teams have been set by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Small classes open postseason next week.