1A field a true test — again
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The Class 1A state softball field is as loaded as ever this summer, with defending state champion Clarksville and No. 1 Exira-EHK/Audubon leading the way.
Four-time qualifier St. Edmond earned the No. 3 seed and will serve as a "co-host" school alongside 4A qualifier Fort Dodge again when games begin Monday at Rogers Park on Farm Bureau Field -- part of the renovated side of the complex.
Clarksville, which knocked off the Gaels in the semifinals a year ago on its way to winning gold, will open with North Butler at 4:30 p.m. prior to St. Edmond facing sixth-seeded Remsen St. Mary's at 6:45 p.m.
Exira-EHK/Audubon kicks things off at noon vs. Edgewood-Colesburg, with West Monona and Southeast Warren battling in the other quarterfinal.
The Indians are led by returning pitcher Sydney Lovrien, as the senior owns a record of 20-7 with 141 strikeouts and a 1.83 earned run average. Hannah Wangsness has a team-high 38 RBI with 15 doubles. Five others have driven in at least 22.
North Butler advanced with an upset of Mason City Newman behind ace Kamri Groen. The junior has 228 strikeouts and 23 wins with an ERA of 0.93 on the season. Groen has also added 10 home runs at the plate.
Zoey Thompson is one of the top hitters in the class, sporting a .471 average with 12 extra-base hits and 35 runs scored.
The Spartans have won 23 of 27 games on the year to earn the No. 1 overall seed. Junior Riley Miller is batting .449 with 34 RBI, 31 runs scored and 17 wins inside the circle, striking out 192 batters.
Edgewood-Colesburg boasts the top pitcher in 1A in Rachel Eglseder. The senior has recorded 297 strikeouts in just under 188 innings.
Faith Dugan, a sophomore, is hitting .525 with eight doubles, seven triples, 54 runs, 40 RBI and 34 steals.
It has been a storybook season in more ways than one for Eglseder, who was declared cancer free in June after battling Stage 2 Hodgkin Lymphoma.
McKenna Baker from West Monona has stolen 77 bases this year, hitting .514 with 59 runs scored and 22 RBI. Allie Geisler of Southeast Warren looks to keep her off the bases, while Lexi Clendenen leads the offense with a .603 average, 50 runs scored and 43 RBI.
The nightcap will see the Gaels, led by senior Faith Shirbroun, take on Remsen St. Mary's for a second time after besting them during the regular season, 6-5. St. Edmond run-ruled its way to state, while the Mustangs handled Newell-Fonda in a regional final, 10-4.
The Hawks have overcome the pain left from an offseason auto accident before basketball that left sophomore Brielle Schorg paralyzed from the waist down. Schorg is a student assistant for Remsen St. Mary's this summer. Both Hallie Bunkers and Grace Galles, the other two seriously injured in the crash, are starters on the diamond.