Iowa City High tries to build on ‘nice step forward’

It was no act. There was outright joy in Jeff Koenig's voice.

'I couldn't be happier,' said Koenig, the softball coach at Iowa City High. 'We've really taken a nice step forward.'

More like a leap.

City High has made the move to respectability this season, and with the youth on the roster, even better days should be on the horizon.

'We've done some things we haven't done the last few years,' he said. 'Our eighth-graders have come in at a high level, and our older kids have raised their level.'

The Little Hawks (20-19) open postseason play Thursday with a Class 5A regional quarterfinal at home against Davenport North (17-22). First pitch is 7 p.m.

It's one of four games featuring Metro/Iowa City teams. Cedar Rapids Washington (0-38) is at Waterloo West (8-28) in another 5A game. In Class 4A, Cedar Rapids Xavier (21-17) hosts Grinnell (8-22), and Marion (14-22) entertains Maquoketa (11-23).

City High finished third in the MVC Valley Division with a 16-10 record, doubling its MVC win output from a year ago.

Freshman Brooke Bormann leads the team in hitting at .368, a rise of more than 100 points from last year. The next three leading hitters — Ella Cook, Carey Koenig and Ayana Lindsey — are eighth-graders.

Lindsey (11-10) is City's primary pitcher.

The Little Hawks have set team records this season in home runs (26) and doubles (70).

'We're hitting the ball better than we ever have,' Coach Koenig said.

Xavier will try to parlay a strong regular-season schedule into a deep 4A tournament run. The Saints' last state trip was in 2010.

'Our strength of schedule is huge,' Saints Coach Nikki Gahring said. 'Even our non-conference schedule. That can only help us down the road.

'We're hitting the ball hard right now, and our pitchers are throwing well.'

Sisters Charlotte and Olivia Richards lead the Saints at .411 and .396, respectively, and have combined for 66 RBIs.

Independence is the only area 4A/5A ranked team that did not receive a first-round bye. The 15th-rated Mustangs (25-13), who have posted their first winning season since 2011, host Dubuque Wahlert (7-29).

THURSDAY'S CLASS 5A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All Games, 7 p.m.)

Region 4

Des Moines Lincoln (5-33) at Ankeny (20-20)

Region 5

Cedar Rapids Washington (0-38) at Waterloo West (8-28)

Region 7

Davenport North (17-22) at Iowa City High (20-19)

Region 8

Marshalltown (8-27) at Des Moines East (19-19)

THURSDAY'S CLASS 4A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All Games, 7 p.m.)

Region 4

Decorah (9-18) at Western Dubuque (22-15)

Dubuque Wahlert (7-29) at Independence (25-13)

Region 5

DeWitt Central (10-29) at Washington (20-17)

Clear Creek Amana (14-26) at North Scott (22-18)

Region 7

Maquoketa (11-23) at Marion (14-22)

Grinnell (8-22) at Cedar Rapids Xavier (21-17)

THURSDAY'S CLASS 2A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(7 p.m.)

Region 4

West Branch (15-23) at Iowa City Regina (24-11)

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