Dominant Benton Community seeks state softball return

When excellence is staring you in the face, it's easy to take it for granted.

Easy, and unfortunate.

'Sometimes you don't get to enjoy it as much as you'd like,' said Benton Community Coach Eric Stenberg. 'It's sad when someone pitches a no-hitter, and it's so common that you talk about it postgame for three seconds. You're always looking toward the next game coming up.'

Next up for the top-ranked Bobcats (39-2) is a date with New Hampton (18-18) in a Class 3A regional final. First pitch is 7 p.m. Monday at Van Horne.

It's one of 24 games — eight apiece in 3A, 2A and 1A — that will determine state-tournament berths. The 5A and 4A state field will be assembled Tuesday.

Stenberg's club has been a big blue wrecking crew since the start of the season. The Bobcats have won 22 consecutive games, 20 by shutout. They have allowed one run in the last 13 games. Yes, one run.

Benton has outscored its opponents by a total of 342-18 this season. That's rare dominance.

'(Pitcher) Amber (Fiser) is having a phenomenal season,' Stenberg said. 'Once she signed (with the University of Minnesota), they gave her a list of workouts, and she has really buckled down and taken them seriously. You can really tell she has worked hard.'

Fiser is 24-2 with a 0.27 ERA and averages 14.5 strikeouts per 7 innings.

'She's the complete package,' Stenberg said. 'She's a fierce competitor. I wouldn't trade her for anyone.'

Alyssa Wiebel (.539, 16 home runs, 76 runs) leads off an attack in which all nine batters are hitting above .300.

'One through 9, we're swinging the bat well,' Stenberg said. 'Our defense and our pitching, both are better than last year.'

In other 3A regional finals involving area teams, No. 3 Solon (31-9) hosts Center Point-Urbana (23-17), and No. 5 Mount Vernon (28-13) entertains No. 6 Northeast (32-8) in a rematch from last year's regional final, won by the Mustangs, 6-5.

'They have great speed and great power,' Mount Vernon shortstop Libby Ryan said of the Rebels. 'We're going to have to play well, definitely.'

Solon is the defending 3A state champion; Iowa City Regina captured the 2A title last year. The seventh-ranked Regals (25-16) host No. 9 Pella Christian (21-7) Monday while No. 2 Cascade (33-5) entertains No. 13 Conrad BCLUW (28-8).

In Class 1A, No. 2 Lansing Kee (31-6) hosts No. 11 North Butler (26-3), Montezuma (14-13) is at South Iowa Cedar League rival Belle Plaine (19-10), and Sigourney (16-11) travels to No. 5 New London (23-10).

CLASS 3A REGIONAL FINALS

No. 6 Northeast (32-8) at No. 5 Mount Vernon (28-13), Region 3

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Overview: This is a regional-final rematch from last year, when Mount Vernon won, 6-5, to advance to the state tournament. The Mustangs went on to finish fifth. Northeast, meanwhile, is chasing its first trip to Fort Dodge. The Rebels have the most productive offense of anybody in any class, scoring 361 runs (just over 9 per game). Aleenah Marcucci is batting .586 with 73 runs and 67 steals, while sophomore Casidy Dondiego has 16 home runs and 77 RBIs. Mount Vernon overcame an early 3-0 deficit to get past West Liberty, 8-4, in the regional semifinals. Libby Ryan (.524) ignites the Mustangs attack — she has scored 72 runs and has swiped 73 bases without being caught.

Center Point-Urbana (23-17) at No. 3 Solon (31-9), Region 5

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Overview: Defending 3A champion Solon has looked vulnerable in the postseason. The Spartans needed extra innings to get past Williamsburg in the first round, then outslugged Roland-Story, 12-9, in the semifinals. Solon has numerous offensive weapons, but may have to outslug the Stormin' Pointers to return to state for the sixth straight year. Monika Bevans is hitting .543 with 12 home runs and 74 RBIs, and University of Wisconsin recruit Syndey Lawson is batting .517 and has scored 64 times. CPU seeks its third straight state trip (it was fourth last year) under new coach Alexis Ferguson. Katelyn Banning (.383), Claire Chandler (.381) and Claire Holtz (.375) lead a strong junior class.

New Hampton (18-18) at No. 1 Benton Community (39-2), Region 6

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Overview: After a state runner-up finish last year, Benton is on a championship crusade. The Bobcats enter the postseason with 22 consecutive victories, and that run features 20 shutouts. All told, Benton's dominance adds up to a 342-18 scoring margin. Amber Fiser is the state's top pitcher; the University of Minnesota recruit is 24-2 with a 0.27 ERA and 325 strikeouts. Despite a steady diet of walks, Illinois State signee Alyssa Wiebel has managed 16 home runs and is second all-time on the state career chart with 63. She's batting .539 with 76 runs. The rest of the lineup is balanced, with nine other players hitting better than .300. New Hampton tripped No. 9 Dyersville Beckman in the regional finals, the Chickasaws' ninth win in their last 10 games (following a 10-game losing streak).

CLASS 2A REGIONAL FINALS

No. 9 Pella Christian (21-7) at No. 7 Iowa City Regina (25-16), Region 5

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Overview: Regina would like to end its recent trend of making it to state in odd-numbered years (2009-11-13-15), then falling short in the evens. The Regals won 2A titles in 2011 and 2015. Don't be swayed by their record. Ten of their losses came against 4A and 5A competition. Sarah Lehman has struck out 30 batters in the Regals' two postseason victories, and has 255 K's this season. Kennedy Brown is hitting .444 with seven home runs. Pella Christian pursues its first trip to the state tournament since 1990. Emma Schnell (18-5, 1.62 ERA, 162 strikeouts) is a quality pitcher, and the Eagles exhibit a balanced offensive attack.

No. 13 Conrad BCLUW (28-8) at No. 2 Cascade (33-5), Region 7

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Overview: Last year's state runner-up, Cascade prevailed through a stressful regional semifinal, rallying from a 3-1 deficit and putting out some late fires in a 5-3 escape against Jesup. BCLUW, meanwhile, edged West Marshall, 2-1. Cascade captured the River Valley Conference North Division title and has eight players batting .300 or better. Lynsey Dolphin leads the way at .445 with 47 runs scored, and also has constructed a 10-1 pitching ledger. Laura Kremer is 9-2, freshman Hailey Hannan 14-2. There's little doubt who will get the call for BCLUW — Olivia Callaway is 21-1 with a 0.53 ERA. Jordyn Beeghly is hitting .429 with 33 RBIs.

CLASS 1A REGIONAL FINALS

No. 11 North Butler (26-3) at No. 2 Lansing Kee (31-6), Region 3

• Time: 7 p.m. (at New Albin)

• Overview: Kee High has become a small-school power since the Cooper girls arrived. Ellie (senior), Courtney (junior) and Kendra (sophomore) combine for 151 RBIs and 110 runs scored. The younger two handle the pitching duties, with Courtney sporting a 23-3 record and a sub-1 ERA. Kee has won 12 consecutive games. North Butler's victory streak is at 16, including a 5-3 regional-semifinal win at Central City. Junior Taylor Graven has compiled a 22-2 mark with 275 strikeouts and is batting .478 for the Bearcats.

Montezuma (14-13) at Belle Plaine (19-10), Region 4

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Overview: The winner of this battle between South Iowa Cedar League combatants will make its state-tournament debut next week. An unranked team is guaranteed to come out of at least three 1A regions, and this is one of them. Montezuma pulled the upset of the tournament (so far) with an extra-inning win at No. 3 Alburnett in the regional quarterfinals, and followed it with a 7-5 win over North Tama on Friday. Belle Plaine tripped Bellevue Marquette, 4-2, in the regional semis. The Plainsmen won the regular-season meeting, 11-4, and are led by Morgan Straight (.520, 43 RBIs). Montezuma's Katie Maschman is hitting .437 with 37 runs and 31 steals.

Sigourney (16-11) at No. 5 New London (23-10), Region 5

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Overview: After dumping sixth-rated Calamus-Wheatland in the regional semifinals, Sigourney goes after another small-school powerhouse. A six-run sixth inning carried the Savages to their sixth win in seven games, and Sigourney has rung up 38 runs in three postseason games. Sigourney's top four hitters consist of three sophomores and a freshman, led by Leah Carter at .494. The hits will be harder to come by Monday against New London ace Morgan Christner (19-6, 1.05), who has struck out 257 batters in 153 1/3 innings. Christner pitched the Tigers to a third-place state finish last year.

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