Jeff Linder

Carly Goodwin spun a 13-strikeout two-hitter, and Sigourney handed Remsen St. Mary’s its first loss of the season, 3-1, in a Class 1A state softball quarterfinal.

Martensdale-St. Marys pitcher Campbell German surrendered three hits, all to Claire Aulwes, and the top-ranked Blue Devils edged Edgewood-Colesburg, 2-1, in a Class 1A state softball quarterfinal.

Peyton Grabenbauer’s grand slam capped a seven-run second inning, and East Marshall beat Lisbon, 8-1, in a Class 2A state softball quarterfinal.

No. 1 Benton Community scored four times in the first inning and handled Solon 5-1 in a Class 3A state softball quarterfinal. Lexie Pippert had the key blow, a three-run double.

Jersey Metz held PCM without a hit in the final five innings, and Williamsburg’s bats came around in an 8-3 win. The Raiders reached the Class 3A state softball semifinals for the fifth straight year.

Ava Husak starred in the circle (two-hitter) and at the plate (three-run homer) in No. 1 North Polk’s 7-2 win over Western Dubuque in a Class 4A state softball quarterfinal.

Mack Mohler smoked a home run and two doubles, and top-ranked West Des Moines Valley looked the part in an 11-1 five-inning victory over Cedar Rapids Prairie in a Class 5A state softball tournament quarterfinal Monday morning.

State softball 2024: When Shannon Finn arrived, the Williamsburg program elevated. Along with Baylie Von Ahsen, Finn will make her fifth straight state appearance for the 3A defending-champion Raiders.

Capsules on the eight Gazette area teams that have qualified for the Iowa high school state softball tournament, plus predictions for each class.

Prep softball: Pairings for the 2024 Iowa high school state tournament.

Riley Redig’s three-run homer with two outs in the seventh inning sent Cedar Rapids Prairie past Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 3-2, and into the state softball tournament.

Iowa women’s basketball freshman Ava Heiden is fascinated by the state of Iowa’s thunderstorms — and fireworks. A 6-foot-4 post, Heiden headlines the Hawkeyes’ freshman class; she was ranked No. 42 nationally by ESPN.

A look at Tuesday’s 5A, 4A and 3A Iowa high school softball regional finals. Nine games involve area teams, including a Prairie-Kennedy matchup that guarantees the Metro a 5A state qualifier.

A look at Monday’s 2A and 1A Iowa high school softball regional finals. Edgewood-Colesburg seeks a state-tournament breakthrough, but must beat defending-champion North Linn to get there.

Bliss Beck of Clear Creek Amana is The Gazette’s 2024 Female Athlete of the Year. The school’s first recipient of the award, the Drake volleyball recruit was a four-sport athlete and helped lead the Clippers to the 4A girls’ state basketball championship