Jeff Linder

Cedar Rapids Prairie strung together three straight hits in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie, and knocked off Class 5A eighth-ranked Linn-Mar, 4-2, in an MVC softball surprise Wednesday night at Prairie High School.

Prep softball conference and divisional championships are still up for grabs in some cases, clinched in others. Here’s a look around the area.

Area softball Super Ten and standings (June 28): Williamsburg extens its season-long hold on No. 1; Benton Community continues its late-season climb; Maquoketa enters for the first time this season.

Iowa’s Caitlin Clark claims the Honda Cup, which goes to the collegiate woman athlete of the year

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released softball pairings Friday morning.

Prep softball: Haley Schroeder, Kelsey Kaut deliver in the clutch in Iowa City Liberty’s sweep of Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

The Big Ten released women’s basketball opponents for the 2023-24 season. Iowa will play contenders Indiana and Ohio State twice, Maryland on the road only.

Prep softball: Elle Ridgeway hits two home runs, but misses the traffic in the parking lot, in Williamsburg’s sweep of Marion.

Prep softball: As the postseason approaches for Linn-Mar, delivery day (of twins) looms for Coach Lindsey Murray.

Area softball Super Ten and standings (June 21): Reigning 2A state champion Iowa City Regina makes a big jump, to No. 2.

Jessa DeMoss lasered a grand slam down the left-field line, helping Benton Community to a 6-5 win over Class 3A No. 8 Solon in the second game of a Wamac Conference softball doubleheader.

Here are The Gazette’s Iowa high school softball mock regional pairings. The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union will release the real ones nest week.

Linn-Mar sophomore Addie Gralund has undergone four cardiac surgeries, and a fifth is on the not-so-distant horizon. She has played all 19 softball games for the Lions this season and is batting .377.

Peyton Driscoll pitched a 12-strikeout, one-hit shutout for 3A top-ranked Williamsburg, then No. 6 Mount Vernon took the nightcap, 6-2, in a Wamac softball split.

Area softball Super Ten and standings (June 14): On the strength of a nine-game win streak, Mount Vernon climbs into the top five.