Jeff Linder, The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa –
Ready or not — and like it or not — here it comes.
The world of pentaclassed girls’ athletics in Iowa officially makes its debut Monday, when the Class 1A softball regional tournament begins.
Thus begins a nine-day race for Fort Dodge, host site of the state softball tournament July 16-20 at the Rogers Sports Complex. Regionals begin Tuesday in classes 2A and 3A, Thursday in 4A and 5A.
Regional finals are July 9 in 1A, 2A and 3A, July 10 in 4A and 5A.
The 1A field consists of 102 teams, 76 of which open play Monday. The other 26 have first-round byes.
Fifth-ranked Lisbon is the area’s best hope among the small schools. The Lions earned a share of the Big East championship Thursday by splitting a double-header with Northeast, the other co-champ.
Lions Coach Bob Bunting earned his 1,000th career win June 7.
The Lions receive a first-round bye and will face Iowa Mennonite or Lone Tree in a quarterfinal Thursday. Lisbon is one of two ranked teams in Region 3. The other is No. 13 Sigourney, which would face the Lions in a regional final at Iowa City West if both advance that far.
Sigourney will host the winner of Monday’s Keota-WACO game on Thursday.
CLASS 1A REGIONAL FIRST ROUND
(Monday, 7 p.m. unless noted)
Region 3
Dunkerton at Janesville (Clarksville, bye)
Central City at East Buchanan
Midland at Springville
Lansing Kee at West Central (Elkader Central, bye)
Rockford at Riceville (Mason City Newman, bye)
Region 4
Keota at WACO (Sigourney, bye)
Fort Madison Holy Trinity vs. New London, at Farmington, 5:30 p.m.
Winfield-Mount Union at Harmony, 7:30 p.m.
Bellevue Marquette at Calamus-Wheatland (Preston, bye)
Iowa Mennonite at Lone Tree (Lisbon, bye)
Region 5
Grandview Park Baptist at BGM (Lynnville-Sully, bye)
Montezuma at English Valleys
HLV at Tri-County
Garwin GMG at Belle Plaine (Colo-Nesco, bye)
Meskwaki Settlement at North Tama (Don Bosco, bye)
