Jeff Linder

FORT DODGE — Robin Brand saw it in her players’ eyes, and their bats. One overwhelming thought crept into her …

FORT DODGE — First came the bloops. Then came the blasts. Finally, the bombs. Seventh-ranked Center Point-Urbana found every gap …

FORT DODGE — Her team was nursing a tenuous lead. And suddenly, Kendall Streigle was nursing a sore ankle. ‘I …

FORT DODGE — Three big innings led to a very big mismatch. And a harvest of records for top-ranked Lansing …

CEDAR RAPIDS — Avery Guy is a leadoff hitter, and an extraordinary one. A senior shortstop at Cedar Rapids Jefferson, …

FORT DODGE — Capsules on area qualifiers for the state softball tournament this week at the Rogers Sports Complex: Class …

FORT DODGE — Our placement predictions for the 2017 state softball tournament this week at the Rogers Sports Complex: Class …

IOWA CITY — For Justin Lutjen, something had to give. For the betterment of his family, it was softball. Lutjen …

Cedar Rapids Jefferson’s Avery Guy and Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Ashley Hamilton are divisional softball players of the year in the …

CEDAR RAPIDS — For the common team, the situation screamed sacrifice. But Cedar Rapids Jefferson isn’t a common team. When …

SOLON — All but one set of lights had been extinguished. The field was groomed, and nearly everyone else had …

The Kennedy Cougars tensed up last season, and paid the price. ‘There were a lot of outside factors,’ recalled Coach …

Few prepare quite like Jim White. Sure, Albia is 120 miles away. But rest assured, no stone will be left …

Libby Ryan, at a glance• Full name: Elizabeth Joyce Ryan• Birthdate: Aug. 21, 1998• School: Mount Vernon• Family: Parents, Dave and Heidi. Siblings, Jacob, Emily, Sarah, Trey, Paul, Lauren, Henry and Mikey.• High-school achievements: Will finish with 17 varsity letters, and her fingerprints are all over some very successful programs at Mount Vernon. She has competed in state competition 12 times — four each in volleyball and track, twice each in basketball and softball. A two-time first-team all-state libero in volleyball, and is likely to become a three-time first-teamer in softball. An 11-time state placewinner in track, including a shuttle hurdle relay title in 2014 and a 1,600-meter relay crown in 2015.• Future plans: Will attend Drake University and play softball. Major is undecided.

CEDAR RAPIDS — The hits came early. The hits came often. The hits came from everybody, everywhere, up and down …