'Different year, different team' at Kennedy

The Kennedy Cougars tensed up last season, and paid the price.

'There were a lot of outside factors,' recalled Coach Maddison LeClere. 'We were ranked No. 1, and that added pressure to the kids, the parents, the coaching staff.'

The result was a heartbreaking regional-final loss to Cedar Rapids Prairie.

'It just feels different this year,' added senior Sydney Kinney. 'We don't feel the pressure as much. We're more loose and ready.'

Kennedy doesn't need any 'outside factors' Tuesday. Davenport West will provide enough of a challenge.

The field for next week's state softball tournament will be completed Tuesday, with regional finals in Class 5A and Class 4A. First pitch is 7 p.m. for all of them.

Five games feature Gazette-area teams.

In 5A, fourth-ranked Kennedy (34-7) hosts No. 9 Davenport West (32-8), No. 3 Cedar Rapids Jefferson (37-4) entertains Dubuque Hempstead (24-16), and Linn-Mar (27-14) is at No. 6 Urbandale (30-8).

The top-ranked team in 4A (and the 2016 3A state champion), Benton Community (32-6) hosts No. 14 Charles City (31-6), and Cedar Rapids Xavier (23-17) is at No. 8 Mount Pleasant (30-10).

Kennedy is seeking its first state trip since 1999. An assistant for Dan Gratz last year, LeClere said it's a 'different year, and a different team' that fell a step short.

'The kids have played pretty loose,' she said. 'I haven't seen us playing not to lose.'

The Cougars have the home-field advantage, but they're facing a West squad that has won 15 straight games, including a 13-1, four-inning rout of Iowa City West in the regional semifinals.

West's Lexy Monty leads the state with 19 home runs.

Jefferson also was a regional-final casualty in 2016.

'When we left Urbandale last year, it was as if we were already getting ready for this year,' J-Hawks Coach Brian Erbe said. 'I know it's cliche, but our chemistry this year has been amazing. The kids talk about the same things. They all have a common goal.'

The J-Hawks have set a state record this year with 64 home runs, including 18 by Lindsey Culver.

'The thing I like right now is the bottom of the order,' Erbe said. 'Those kids are hitting the snot out of the ball.'

Jefferson swept Hempstead in a doubleheader June 22, but the J-Hawks had to rally from a 5-0 deficit in Game 2. Culver's three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh gave them a 7-6 triumph.

'We're in a good place right now, but Hempstead is, too,' Erbe said. 'There's no reason for us to look past them, because they are capable of beating us.'

Area Class 5A regional finals

All 7 p.m.

Linn-Mar (27-14) at No. 6 Urbandale (30-8), Region 4

Both teams are coming off 5-2 regional-semifinal wins — Linn-Mar over Cedar Falls, Urbandale over Ankeny. Miriam Berry was 2-for-2 with two RBIs for the Lions, while Katie Smith and Elison Ollinger split the pitching duties. Ollinger is hitting .504 this season with 14 doubles, 42 runs and 42 RBIs. Urbandale is gunning for its third straight state appearance; the J-Hawks were fourth last season. They enter Tuesday's game with 10 wins in their last 11 decisions. Skyler Shellmyer is batting .563 with 58 runs and 29 stolen bases.

Dubuque Hempstead (24-16) at No. 3 Cedar Rapids Jefferson (37-4), Region 5

Jefferson is on a historic slugging run this season. The J-Hawks' 64 home runs is a state record for a team, and they also rank atop 5A in runs (395), batting average (.445), on-base percentage (.507) and slugging percentage (.722). Lindsey Culver has 18 home runs, including a three-run shot in the bottom of the seventh inning that gave Jefferson a 7-6 nightcap win over Hempstead in an MVC doubleheader sweep June 22. Five others have at least six homers this season. The J-Hawks whipped Waterloo West, 11-0, in the regional semis while Hempstead handled Dubuque Senior, 4-1. Hempstead is seeking its first state-tournament appearance.

No. 9 Davenport West (32-8) at No. 4 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (34-7), Region 7

The Cougars' task is a formidable one against a West outfit that has won 15 consecutive games. West whipped Iowa City West, 13-1, in four innings in the regional semifinals while Kennedy handled Iowa City High, 12-2, in five. West senior Lexy Monty is the state leader in home runs (19) and is third in RBIs with 66. Kennedy is gunning for its first state trip since 1999, and has plenty of weapons of their own. The Cougars' top four batters — Ashley Hamilton, Ashley Winterowd, Kaylin Kinney and Megan Weber — are hitting .460, 462, .459 and .427, and Kinney (a freshman) has 13 homers and 53 RBIs.

Area Class 4A regional finals

All 7 p.m.

No. 14 Charles City (31-6) at No. 1 Benton Community (32-6), Region 4

Last year's 3A state champion, Benton was bumped up in classification this year, but remains a contender to do big things next week in Fort Dodge. Sophomore Angie Gorkow has developed into one of the state's best sluggers; she is hitting .562 with 28 doubles, 15 home runs and 68 RBIs. Shelby Hulsebus (.473) and Grace Martensen (.450) provide speed at the top of the order. The duo has combined for 110 runs and 52 stolen bases without a fail. The Bobcats held off Western Dubuque, 6-3, in the regional semifinals while Charles City downed Independence, 3-1, behind Samantha Heyer's nine-strikeout four-hitter.

Cedar Rapids Xavier (23-17) at No. 8 Mount Pleasant (30-10), Region 7

Sure, Xavier is unranked, but the Saints are jelling and are an extremely dangerous team right now. They popped No. 11 Adel ADM, 10-0, on the road in the regional semifinals behind a 4-for-4, four-RBI gem by Katie Langholz and a three-hit shutout by Maria Steffen. Charlotte Richards (.429) and Olivia Richards (.386) lead Xavier with 35 RBIs apiece. Mount Pleasant is peaking, as well. The Panthers swept No. 3 Fairfield last Monday to win the Southeast Conference title. then blasted Maquoketa, 13-6, in the first round of regionals. Bailey Johnson was 3-for-3 with five RBIs, sending her average to .517 and her RBI count to 55.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com