Jeff Linder

Softball notebook: Patient and powerful, Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Alexis Barden is an offensive force. She’s among the state leaders in a variety of offensive categories.

Girls’ basketball coach Josh Bentley is leaving Cedar Rapids Prairie, accepting the principal post at Anamosa High School.

Jenna Sprague’s two-out hit in the seventh lifted 3A No. 2 Mount Vernon past No. 3 Williamsburg in the opener of a softball doubleheader, then her strikeout nailed down a Game 2 save, and a sweep.

Iowa City Liberty’s bats stayed hot (12 hits in each game) in a softball sweep of Iowa City West.

Handcuffed by Sigourney ace Carly Goodwin through four innings, Belle Plaine struck in the fifth and earned a 3-2 SICL softball victory.

Prep softball notes: Mike Morrison’s “interim” season at Iowa City Liberty is anything but a throwaway summer. The Lightning are scoring more than 11 runs per game and have started 9-1.

Prep softball: Area Super Ten and standings (June 1)

Stephanie (Rich) Dacey will return to Iowa and coach girls’ basketball at Williamsburg. She was Miss Iowa Basketball 2001 at Washington (Iowa), where she won three state championships.

Duanna Coyle stepped in to save a softball doubleheader split for Cedar Rapids Xavier against Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

College softball: Former Iowa City High star Ayana Lindsey plays a supporting role in Northwestern’s run to the Women’s College World Series.

This Linn-Mar softball team is “bubbly,” and it’s also hungry for a trip to Fort Dodge. The Lions won their third straight game via knockout Friday night.

Marion High School athletics director Mike Manderscheid is hopeful that its new on-campus football facility will be ready for action in time for the Wolves’ home football finale Oct. 21.

Cedar Rapids Xavier blanked Clear Creek Amana 5-0, to return to girls’ state soccer for the fifth straight tournament. Alyssa McAleer and Ellie Koechner made rare appearances on the Saints’ scorecard.

Jenna Sprague fanned 11 in a two-hit shutout and Mount Vernon topped Lisbon in their softball border battle, 4-0.

Nine starters are back for a Mount Vernon softball team that is full of talent, long on joy and determined to take it one step further this summer.