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So much for pure chalk.
Iowa Valley pulled the upset of the softball postseason (so far), stunning No. 4 Southeast Warren, 7-4, in a Class 1A regional quarterfinal Wednesday at Milo.
That — and Highland’s surprise at North Linn — threw the 1A Region 4 bracket into a tizzy.
What remains is the certainty that an unranked team will come out of that region, which can now be classified as wide-open.
Iowa Valley (13-11) will try to continue its magic Friday, when it travels to Victor for an all-SICL matchup with HLV-TC (19-6) in a regional semifinal; Highland (15-9) goes to BGM (18-6) in the other game.
Here are five of Friday’s best 2A and 1A regional-semifinal matchups involving area teams:
Alburnett (26-11) at No. 5 Durant (19-12)
Class 2A Region 5
Alburnett avenged a 2024 regional-quarterfinal loss to Grundy Center on Wednesday, breaking a 1-1 tie with a pair of sixth-inning runs. The pitching duo of juniors Katelynn Bowler (13-8, 1.44 ERA) and Ingrid Landa (12-3, 2.19) will keep the Pirates competitive with most anybody. Landa has blossomed as a hitter, too, batting .422 with 20 extra-base hits and 46 RBIs. Durant earned an 8-5 win over the Pirates on June 27, and boasts a multi-tool threat in sophomore Allison Toft (10-2, 2.25 ERA; .493, 23 RBIs).
No. 14 Jesup (25-10) at No. 8 Lisbon (25-12)
Class 2A Region 5
Lisbon earned its 10th consecutive win Wednesday, getting at least one hit from all nine batters — including a sixth-inning grand slam from Emma Pleasant — in an 11-4 triumph over Northeast. The Lions are two wins away from an eighth straight state trip, but neither will come easily. Sophomore Peyton Weber drove in five runs (including a home run) in the J-Hawks’ 7-4 regional-quarterfinal win over Hudson. Weber is one of six Jesup players who have homered this season; junior Hayden Kresser leads with seven.
Maquoketa Valley (23-12) at No. 11 Cascade (18-9)
Class 2A Region 7
There’s neither a clear-cut favorite nor a decided underdog among the remaining four teams in this bracket (No. 10 Dyersville Beckman hosts North Butler in the other semifinal). In junior Kallie Freiburger (13-2, 0.95 ERA), Maquoketa Valley might have an edge in the circle. The Wildcats scored a pair of early runs and held off Bellevue Marquette, 2-1, in the previous round while Cascade rolled past MFL MarMac, 8-0, behind a five-inning, 11-strikeout two-hitter from senior pitcher Kate Green and five runs in the first inning.
Iowa Valley (13-11) at HLV-TC (19-6)
Class 1A Region 4
The seeds for Iowa Valley’s shocker at Southeast Warren were sewn when the Tigers scored five times in the fourth inning to break a 2-2 tie. Senior Lydia Kriegel and freshman Mallory Hauschilt drove in two runs apiece, with Kriegel doing the job in the pitching circle. The result was Iowa Valley’s seventh straight win, and the Tigers have scored 89 runs in that span. HLV-TC earned a 9-1 victory over the Tigers on June 9, and cruised into this round with a 9-0 regional-quarterfinal rout of Melcher-Dallas. Track star Ema Roberts is one of three Warriors hitting over .400.
Don Bosco (20-13) at No. 8 Edgewood-Colesburg (32-7)
Class 1A Region 5
Tri-Rivers Conference West Division champion Ed-Co carries an eight-game winning streak, and the Vikings scored in each frame of a 9-1 five-inning regional-quarterfinal win over Springville. Junior Kaitlyn Hahn had a pair of hits, stole three bases and scored twice, and junior Rachel Eglseder spun a one-hitter. Don Bosco has put up 10 runs in each of its first two postseason games, knocking off No. 15 Lone Tree, 10-3, on the road in Round 2. Dons senior Kennedi McGarvey is a major power source: 13 doubles and 10 home runs.
Friday’s complete area schedule
CLASS 2A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS
(All games 7 p.m.)
Region 5
Alburnett (26-11) at No. 5 Durant (19-12)
No. 14 Jesup (25-10) at No. 8 Lisbon (25-12)
Region 7
North Butler (16-11) at No. 10 Dyersville Beckman (20-15)
Maquoketa Valley (23-12) at No. 11 Cascade (18-9)
CLASS 1A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS
(7 p.m. unless noted)
Region 1
Sigourney (18-7) at No. 1 Wayne (23-2)
Fort Madison Holy Trinity (20-7) at No. 14 Seymour (20-4), 5 p.m.
Region 2
Janesville (15-11) at No. 2 Clarksville (26-4)
Riceville (19-13) at Lansing Kee (27-11)
Region 4
Iowa Valley (13-11) at HLV-TC (19-6)
Highland (15-9) at BGM (18-6)
Region 5
Calamus-Wheatland (21-15) at No. 3 Wapsie Valley (27-4)
Don Bosco (20-13) at No. 8 Edgewood-Colesburg (32-7)
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