—Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Humboldt’s Kendal Clark will help lead the Wildcats in their Class 3A regional final against MOC-Floyd Valley tonight in Humboldt.

Five Messenger-area teams look to punch state softball tickets tonight in regional final action.

Humboldt (3A), Algona (3A), Newell-Fonda (1A), and Bishop Garrigan (1A) all host games, while Emmetsburg (2A) will travel. All contests will begin at 7 p.m.

The fourth-ranked Wildcats (19-2) will meet MOC-Floyd Valley (11-6). Humboldt has won 12 of their last 13 contests, and have 13 shutouts during the run.

The Wildcats boast one of the top hitters and pitchers in Class 3A. Senior Ellie Jacobson (17-1) leads 3A in wins with 17 and is second with 174 strikeouts, just behind Laken Lienhard of Crestwood (176). In the circle Jacobson has a 0.86 ERA and has allowed only 13 earned runs.

Junior Kendal Clark is second in 3A with nine home runs, behind Assumption’s Anna Wohlers (10). Clark has 28 hits and leads the team with 29 RBI with a .467 average.

At the plate Jacobson is hitting .400 with 21 RBI and 26 hits.

Senior Mady Lange is hitting a team high .442 with 22 runs driven in. Lange has three home runs and 23 hits.

Classmate Carlie Thompson is batting .414 with 10 RBI and 12 stolen bases. Junior Jori Hajek is second on the team with five home runs, while driving in 19 and a .364 average.

Sixth-ranked Algona (15-1) will host No. 11 Crestwood (15-0), who hasn’t lost a game. Algona’s lone loss of the season came to Humboldt.

Senior Kameryn Etherington has been solid all season at the plate and in the circle for the Bulldogs. She leads 3A with a .686 batting average and is second with a 0.65 ERA.

Etherington has 24 hits with five home runs and 16 RBI. In the circle she has 135 strikeouts and has allowed only eight runs.

Freshman Lillian Etherington is leading the Bulldogs with 21 RBI, while senior Ashlin Young has 13.

For Crestwood Lienhard has a 0.30 ERA, giving up only four earned runs on the year. She has allowed only 31 hits in 93 innings pitched.

Second-ranked Newell-Fonda (17-2) will host Exira-Elk Horn Kimbalton (15-0), who has yet to suffer a loss. The only losses for the Mustangs are to No. 1 Fort Dodge (5A) and No. 4 Humboldt (3A).

Newell-Fonda enters the contest on a five-game win-streak. Junior Bailey Sievers (.571) and freshman Mia Walker (.500) are the top two hitters for the Mustangs. RBI leaders are junior Maggie Walker (24), freshman Mary Walker (23) and sophoomore Macy Sievers (21).

Eighth-grader Kiera Jungers is 9-2 with 83 strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA. E-EHK pitcher Macy Emgarten has a 1.11 ERA with 128 strikeouts.

Sixth-ranked Bishop Garrigan (12-6) will host 12th ranked Mason City Newman (18-3).

This is a familar match up as they faced off on July 10 with the Knights earning a 14-13 victory in Mason City.

Senior Madison Meister leads the Golden Bears at the plate, hitting .561. She has driven in 23 runs on 37 hits. Mackenzie Meister is hitting .400 with a team high 24 RBI and 24 hits.

Senior Amanda Miller is 10-4 on the season with a 3.45 ERA.

No. 11 Emmetsburg (13-2) will travel to face No. 6 Central Springs (16-3). The E-Hawks enter the contest on a 10-game winning streak.

Senior Lindsay Carter is hitting .488 with 13 RBI. Junior Macy McAllister leads the team with 19 RBI.

Carter is 13-2 in 86 of the 87 innings played by the E-Hawks. She has a 2.44 ERA with 103 strikeouts.

Central Springs has won six straight games. Sophomore Madisyn Kelley is batting .556 with eight home runs and 26 RBI.

Cooper Klaahsen is 15-2 with a 1.92 ERA and 101 strikeouts.