Jeff Linder

A look at Monday’s 2A and 1A Iowa high school softball regional finals. Iowa Valley and Highland tangle in a 1A battle that would have seemed so unlikely just two weeks ago.

Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Libby Fandel is honored as one of two Gazette Female Athletes of the Year in 2025.

Mount Vernon’s Chloe Meester is honored as one of two Gazette Female Athletes of the Year in 2025.

High school softball: Seniors play with urgency, and Cedar Rapids Jefferson topples Cedar Rapids Prairie in a 5A regional semifinal.

Here are five Gazette-area 2A and 1A high school softball regional-semifinal games to watch Friday and why.

Here are five Gazette-area 2A and 1A high school softball regional-semifinal games to watch Friday.

Here are five Gazette-area 5A, 4A and 3A high school softball regional-quarterfinal games to watch Thursday.

High school softball: A series of doubles puts No. 8 Lisbon in front, then Emma Pleasant’s grand slam puts it to bed. Lions dust Northeast, 11-4, in a 2A regional quarterfinal.

Here are five Gazette-area 2A and 1A high school softball regional-quarterfinal games to watch Wednesday.

Women’s basketball: Convinced that Iowa’s culture would remain the same after the Bluder-to-Jensen coaching change, Addie Deal reaffirmed her commitment.

Women’s basketball: Hannah Stuelke, Audi Crooks earn AmeriCup gold with Team USA.

High school softball: Despite an 8-14 regular-season record, it would be foolish as always to discount Iowa City Regina.

The Gazette’s 2025 Male Athlete of the Year finalists: Mason Bechen of North Linn, Tiernan Boots of Lisbon, Ryker Dengler of West Liberty, Rayce Heitman of Williamsburg and Mason Woods of Iowa City West.

The Gazette’s 2025 Female Athlete of the Year finalists: Libby Dix and Chloe Meester of Mount Vernon, Libby Fandel of Cedar Rapids Xavier, Jayden Kuper of Monticello and Noelle Steines of Tipton.

Softball notes: Tracking the conference softball races, and saluting the champions. The MVC Mississippi Division race should become more clear tonight. Meanwhile, Lisbon, Williamsburg, Mount Vernon and Sigourney have extended lengthy title strings.