State regulars collide in 3A regional showdown

It seems too early for this.

Two traditional softball powers collide when top-ranked Solon hosts No. 12 Mid-Prairie in a Class 3A regional-semifinal softball game Friday night.

'We're preparing for this as if it's a state semifinal instead of a regional semifinal, because that's how it feels,” said Solon Coach Jim White.

Both of these teams are regulars at the state tournament. Mid-Prairie (22-12) has made it to Fort Dodge five consecutive years. Solon (37-3) has qualified four years in a row, including last year's second-place finish in 4A.

An early showdown like this was necessary due to the overall 3A power tilted to the east side of the state.

'When the pairings came out, the kids didn't have their heads down,” said Mid-Prairie Coach Kara Beatty. 'Our approach is, to be the best, you have to beat the best, and we'll have to see teams like this sometime anyway.”

If you know softball, you know not to sleep on Mid-Prairie in July, whatever the Golden Hawks' record. They upset Benton Community in last year's regional final.

'We've had some struggles, some injuries,” Beatty said. 'It was hard to get on a roll. But it's July now, and it's a totally different ball game.”

The Golden Hawks are facing a team that, according to Jim White, has made the most start-to-finish improvement of any of his teams. And that's saying something.

'I've been absolutely floored with our progress,” White said. 'I can't believe how much better we are than we were at midseason.”

One reason is the return of South Dakota State recruit Ali Herdliska, who missed the first half of the season to injury and is now playing a new position - second base.

'Obviously, she's a difference-maker,” White said.

Both teams possess prolific offensive players. Solon's Sydney Lawson leads the state in runs scored (73), and Mid-Prairie's Amber Kral is tops in runs batted in (67).

Regional semifinals are Friday throughout the state in 3A, 2A and 1A, and the Solon/Mid-Prairie matchup is one of four that feature area teams in which both teams are ranked.

Also in 3A, No. 13 Mount Vernon (27-9) hosts No. 11 West Liberty (21-10). In Class 2A, third-rated Highland (23-5) hosts No. 8 Durant (25-8) and No. 10 Iowa City Regina (21-14) entertains No. 9 Wapello (24-6).

Regional finals are Monday in the smallest three classes.

FRIDAY'S CLASS 3A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 3

Monticello (16-19) at Center Point-Urbana (27-13)

North Fayette Valley (25-10) at Waterloo Columbus (28-5)

Region 4

Anamosa (18-11) at Northeast (32-5)

West Liberty (21-10) at Mount Vernon (27-9)

Region 5

Mid-Prairie (22-12) at Solon (37-3)

Monroe PCM (21-10) at Bondurant-Farrar (17-17)

Region 7

Hampton-Dumont (10-11) at Benton Community (38-3)

Roland-Story (12-22) at Iowa Falls-Alden (16-12)

FRIDAY'S CLASS 2A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 4

Aplington-Parkersburg (7-16) vs. Denver (13-11), at Conrad

Clayton Ridge (15-12) at Cascade (20-10)

Region 5

Durant (25-8) at Highland (23-5)

Sumner-Fredericksburg (18-13) at Alburnett (20-18)

Region 6

Baxter CMB (19-14) at Eddyville EBF (30-6)

Wapello (24-6) at Iowa City Regina (21-14)

FRIDAY'S CLASS 1A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 3

Central City (27-9) at Bellevue Marquette (28-5)

Turkey Valley (14-14) at Lansing Kee (28-10)

Region 4

Belle Plaine (18-12) at Don Bosco (31-5)

Dunkerton (13-19) at Janesville (21-12)

Region 5

Cardinal (13-20) at New London (28-2)

North Mahaska (14-18) at Sigourney (25-11)

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