Jeff Linder

Observations from the first week of the 2023 Iowa high school softball season, including a 5-0 start from Clear Creek Amana, which has a new, young pitching staff.

Madi Parson drove in both runs, Hannah Ausenhus allowed just four hits, and 21st-ranked Coe held off a seventh-inning charge to edge Hiram (Ohio), 2-1, in Game 2 of an NCAA Division III softball super-regional Saturday afternoon at Clark Field.

Prep softball: Ellie Flanagan finds her rhythm; North Linn tops Cascade, 6-2, in a 1A-vs.-2A top-10 showdown.

Tania Davis, former 1,000-point scorer and guard of Iowa’s 2019 Elite Eight team, rejoins the Iowa women’s basketball program as director of player development.

Iowa high school softball preseason rankings: Iowa City Regina and Williamsburg open the 2023 season ranked No. 1 in 2A and 3A.

Prep softball: Carley Jonker and Lila Legislador club home runs, Duanna Coyle and Braylen Conlon combine for 16 Ks in Cedar Rapids Xavier’s 5-3 season-opening win over Marion.

Prep softball: A growing tradition at Williamsburg consists of deep tournament runs, bright lights and loud sirens.

Prep softball 2023: Eight area teams to watch for this season.

Prep softball 2023: 17 area players to watch for this season.

Lisbon was one of three Gazette area state track and field team champions; Solon’s girls repeated in Class 3A, and Williamsburg shared the 2A boys’ crown with Mediapolis.

Cedar Rapids Washington’s Miles Thompson captured the Class 4A boys’ 100- and 200-meter races Saturday at the state track and field meet. But he wants to be remembered as more than a guy who ran fast.

Sure, the Cedar Rapids Xavier boys’ shuttle hurdle relay team would have preferred a different path to victory. But, as Grayson Hartman said, “That’s the way track goes.”

Gracie Federspiel blazed to the Class 3A girls’ 800-meter championship at the state track and field meet Saturday at Drake Stadium. She was a major reason — but far from the only one — that the Spartans repeated as 3A team champions.

Sidney Swartzendruber’s last-ditch lean at the wire sent Cedar Rapids Kennedy to victory in the Class 4A girls’ sprint medley relay at the state track and field meet Saturday at Drake Stadium.

It’s the final day of the 2023 Iowa high school state track and field meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, with events in all four classes throughout the day. Follow The Gazette’s live blog for updates.