Author: Nathan Bloechl

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

No. 7 (1A) New London 11, Danville 1 

The No. 7 ranked New London Tigers used a five run 4th inning to break the game open, as they rolled into Saturday’s District Final with an 11-1 win over Danville last night.

Tucker Gibbar had two hits and four runs batted in, while Carter Allen drove in two as well.

New London pounded out eight hits and was also aided by six Danville walks.

Hecniel Rodriguez earned the win, throwing four innings allowing just two hits and one run while striking out six.

Kooper Schulte worked a perfect 5th to preserve the win, he fanned two.

Jaden Bauer scored the only run of the game for Danville. He was also the losing pitcher.

Danville closes their season 6-15.

The win improved New London to 24-1.

They’ll take on Sigourney on Saturday night at home in the district final.

You can listen to that game on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.

Sigourney 13, Notre Dame 7 

Sigourney rallied for four runs in the 5th inning and eight runs in the 6th, as the Savages came from behind for a 13-7 win over Notre Dame last night.

The Nikes led 7-1 heading into the bottom of the 5th before Sigourney erupted.

Brady Oleson clubbed a three-run homer to pace the Nike attack offensively.

Dylan Kipp added two hits, including a double.

Cade Streigle had three hits and three runs batted in for the Savages, who improved to 19-5.

They’ll battle with New London Saturday night for the right to move into the substate final.

Notre Dame ends their year 12-13.

Williamsburg 13, Mediapolis 0

Mediapolis was blanked by Raider pitching, as Williamsburg cruised into the district final with a 13-0 win last night.

Williamsburg earned a matchup with Mid-Prairie Saturday night.

Max McClure had the lone hit for the Bulldogs.

Brody Wardenburg homered for Williamsburg.

Mediapolis ends their season 19-10.

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

No. 4 (1A) Lisbon 8, Highland 6 

Lisbon jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held on for an 8-6 win over Super Conference standout Highland yesterday, punching their ticket to the 2021 State Softball Tournament.

Highland knocked off Winfield-Mount Union 1-0 in 14 innings Monday to advance to the regional final last night.

Jessica Kraus took the loss for the Huskies, pitching 4.2 innings allowing five hits and four earned runs.

Terrific freshman shortstop Sarah Burton had two hits and a run batted in while classmate Payton Brun had three hits — all doubles — and three RBI.

Highland closes their season 22-7.

Iowa City Regina 5, Cardinal 4 

The game went to 11 innings, but it was finally Regina who clawed home a run to defeat upset minded Cardinal 5-4, earning a trip to Fort Dodge to the 2021 State Softball Tournament.

Cardinal held a 4-1 lead into the 7th frame, before the Regals countered with three runs of their own to force extras.

The Comets took that lead in the bottom of the 6th, rallying for three runs off of Regina pitching.

The loss ends Cardinal’s wonderful postseason run at 17-14.

Regina, off to the 2A State Tournament, improved to 19-12.

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

The 2021 State Softball field has been set, here are the first round matchups in full, set to be played at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge:

Class 1A: 

No. 1 Newell-Fonda vs. No. 8 North Butler

No. 4 Southeast Warren vs. No. 5 Sigourney

No. 2 Wayne vs. No. 7 Remsen St. Mary’s

No. 3 Lisbon vs. No. 6 Clarksville

Class 2A:

No. 1 Wilton vs. No. 8 Pella Christian

No. 4 Earlham vs. No. 5 North Union

No. 2 North Linn vs. No. 7 Iowa City Regina

No. 3 Central Springs vs. No. 6 Underwood

Class 3A: 

No. 1 Davenport Assumption vs. No. 8 Clarke

No. 4 Atlantic vs. No. 5 Anamosa

No. 2 Mount Vernon vs. No. 7 Estherville-Lincoln Central

No. 3 Williamsburg vs. No. 6 West Liberty

Class 4A: 

No. 1 Winterset vs. No. 8 Oskaloosa

No. 4 Carlisle vs. No. 5 Boone

No. 2 Western Dubuque vs. No. 7 North Polk

No. 3 ADM vs. No. Clear Creek-Amana

Class 5A:

No. 1 Fort Dodge vs. No. 8 Bettendorf

No. 4 Waukee vs. No. 5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy

No. 2 Pleasant Valley vs. No. 7 Southeast Polk

No. 3 Iowa City High vs. No. 6 Ankeny Centennial

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

Mount Pleasant — Iowa Wesleyan will host the conference tournament for the upcoming basketball season, Continental Athletic Conference officials have announced.

Wesleyan will also be the host program of the men’s and women’s golf tournament scheduled for May of 2022.

The conference basketball tournament will come to Mount Pleasant February 25-27th and be played at Ruble Arena.

The champion, runner-up, and consolation winner will all receive automatic qualification to the national tournament, which will begin on March 11th.

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

Highland 1, No. 15 (1A) Winfield-Mount Union 0

It took 14 innings, but Highland scratched the lone run across as the Huskies prevailed for a thrilling 1-0 win over No. 15 (1A) Winfield-Mount Union last night in Winfield.

The game was resumed after being rained out on Friday and Saturday.

Freshman shortstop Sarah Burton had three hits and scored the lone run via pass ball after starting the 14th with a bunt single that turned into a three-bagger after a throwing error.

Payton Brun had two hits for Highland as well.

The real story, however, was the pitching performance from both teams.

Of course the terrific Madie Anderson was dynamite for the Lady Wolves, throwing 14 innings allowing just the one run while striking out 20 hitters.

Grace Batcheller and Jessica Kraus combined for the shutout for Highland.

Batcheller pitched 7.1 innings allowing nine hits while striking out three.

Kraus threw 6.2 without allowing a hit, walking two and striking out six.

The win propelled Highland to tonight’s region final where they’ll meet with No. 4 Lisbon.

Winfield closes their season at 17-6.

No. 14 Regina 8 , No. 3 Louisa-Muscatine 7 

Iowa City Regina scratched a run across late in the game as the Regals upset Louisa-Muscatine last night.

The win moves Regina to tonight’s region final where they’ll take on upstart Cardinal.

Kylee Sanders had two hits to pace the Falcons.

Louisa-Muscatine closes their season at 20-9.

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

Danville 6, Keota 0

Danville pitcher Sawyer Nelson struck out 14 hitters over 6.1 hitless innings as Danville upset Keota yesterday 6-0 in a Class 1A District Quarterfinal.

Nelson gave way to Grifen Molle in the 7th, who recorded the final two outs of the game to preserve the no-no.

Tyler Hartman had two hits including a double and drove in one.

Danville’s win improved the Bears to 6-14, Keota ends their season 15-8.

No. 7 (1A) New London 17, Tri-County 1

New London peppered the score board early and often needing just four innings to rip Tri-County 17-1.

The win advanced the Tigers to tonight’s district semifinal against Danville, a game you can hear on FM 105.5.

New London saw the Trojans score the game’s first run — but slugged back with nine of their own in the bottom of the 1st then six in the bottom of the 2nd.

All told, the Tigers pounded out 14 hits, six of which went for extra bases.

Kooper Schulte homered and drove in four while scoring three runs to ignite the attack, while Tucker Gibbar and Carter Allen each tripled.

Brendan Richey earned the win for New London.

The freshman threw four inning allowing five hits and one earned run while striking out six.

New London improved to 23-1.

Solon 8, Mount Pleasant 2 

Solon got the fireworks started early as the Spartans rolled to an 8-2 win over Mount Pleasant last night in a nonconference tune up.

Will Edeker took the loss for Mount Pleasant, allowing five runs, four earned over 1.2 innings.

Jacob Ensminger and Jack Johnson came out of the bullpen to supply quality middle relief.

Carter Amos doubled and drove in one.

Trevor Wellington, Chase Williamson and Colten Hutson all had singles.

Mount Pleasant will now turn their focus to Friday’s 3A District Quarterfinal, where they will take on No. 9 (3A) Fort Madison.

First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. and you can listen on FM 105.5.

Other area finals last night:

Notre Dame 7, Moravia 3 

Mediapolis 8, Louisa-Muscatine 0

Sigourney 11, Winfield-Mount Union 1

Regina 6, West Burlington 2 

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

Cedar Falls — UNI football will kick off four of five home games at 4 p.m., the lone exception being the season finale against Western Illinois, which will kick off at 1 p.m.

The kickoff for the season opener against Iowa State was also moved back an hour to 3:30 p.m.

The Panthers open the home schedule with DI newcomer St. Thomas (MN) on Sept. 18 at 4 p.m. before beginning Valley play with Youngstown State on Oct. 2.

The Panthers host South Dakota on Oct. 16 and Southern Illinois on Oct. 30 before closing the regular season at home on Nov. 20 against WIU.

UNI was picked 15th in the FCS in the Athlon Preseason Rankings.

The Panthers return several players that were injured during the spring season along with MVFC Defensive Player of the Year Jared Brinkman.

UNI finished 3-4 during the spring season. Each loss came to a team the advanced to the FCS Playoffs and all four losses came by a combined 15 points.