Prep Softball Rankings- The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released their second rankings for the season and there was a major shakeup after the first two weeks of play.

Southeast Warren stayed atop the rankings after a 9-1 start to the season, but conference foe Martensdale-St. Marys fell from 2^nd to 8^th after a 2-0 loss to Wayne in Class 1A. Wayne was previously unranked but sprung up to 7^th in this week’s edition. Newell-Fonda’s undefeated 7-0 start leapfrogged Remsen St. Mary’s to be ranked 2^nd this week. Three teams fell out of the top 15: Highland, West Central Valley, and St. Ansgar. Logan-Magnolia went from unranked to 11^th and Exira-EHK is now ranked 13^th after a 4-0 start to the season.

In Class 2A, Iowa City Regina clutches on to the #1 spot despite a slow start out the gates with a 3-2 record. Central Springs hurdled Lisbon to be ranked 2^nd this week. There were juxtaposing movements in the rankings this week as South Hardin moved up 8 spots and Interstate 35 fell 9 spots. Interstate 35 was ranked 5^th last week but a four-game losing streak brought their record to a meager 3-6 on the season and 14^th in the rankings. South Hardin rounded out the rankings last week, but a 7-0 start to the season propelled them up to 7^th. Cardinal, Akron-Westfield, and Logan-Magnolia all fell out of the top 15. Alburnett is now ranked 12^th after not being on the list last week. Lousia-Muscatine following a 4-1 start to the season is now ranked 13^th and Ridge View rounds out the top 15.

Class 3A had the most amount of stability with the top 4 unchanged with Williamsburg on top with an 8-0 record. Mount Vernon’s 8-0 loss to Solon caused them to slide from 5^th to 7^th in the rankings. After being ranked 8^th last week, Benton clings on to the top 15 at the last slot with a 4-7 record. The Bobcats suffered 5 losses in a row to Assumption and Clear Creek Amana. PCM, Algona, and Atlantic all tumbled out of the top 15. Center Point-Urbana went from unranked to 10^th. West Lyon is now ranked 12^th and Chariton is ranked 14^th after a 5-0 start to the season.

Dallas Center-Grimes is ranked #1 in Class 4A with Fort Dodge remaining in 2^nd. North Scott and Carlisle tumbled down the list despite just one loss on the season. North Scott went from ranked 3^rd to 7^th and Carlisle went from 4^th to 6^th. Burlington climbed up two spots in the ranking to be slotted in 9^th after a 5-1 start to the season. After a 3-2 start to the season, Fairfield was knocked out of the top 15 and replaced by Western Dubuque who is ranked 10^th. ADM suffered a fall of 8 spots as the Tigers are now ranked 14^th after their most recent string of three losses.

Class 5A has a new top team in West Des Moines Valley after taking down the former #1 team Waukee Northwest 5-4. Beyond that change the rankings were shuffled around with no serious movement. Three teams did fall out of the top 15: Dubuque Hempstead, Iowa City Liberty, and Waukee. Des Moines Lincoln is ranked 11^th after being previously unranked. Urbandale took 12^th and Sioux City East was slotted in 15^th.

Mt. Pleasant- The Mt. Pleasant girls’ soccer team announced their team awards, and the Southeast Conference released their honors for the season.

Charice Auwerda, a sophomore for the Panthers, had a terrific season on the pitch and now has the hardware to prove it. Auwerda finished tied for the team lead in goals with 24 and led the team in assists with 18 on the season. Her four hat tricks on the year was a good reason she was named Attacking Player of the Year for the Panthers. She was also named 1^st team All-Conference; additionally, Auwerda was named SEC Player of the Year since she led the conference in assists and tied for top spot in goals.

Another sophomore for the Panthers, Kiera Frazier, nabbed the team award for Defender of the Year. Frazier also grabbed an assist on the season. Due to her astounding defensive play, she was named to 1^st team All-Conference.

Freshman Sarai Sanchez and sophomore Mattisyn Wenke shared the team’s Impact Sub/Off the Bench Award. Wenke tallied an assist and a goal during the season.

Leslie Lopez, junior, earned the Panther Award, which goes to the athlete who is most emblematic of the program’s values. Lopez made 11 saves on the season as the back-up goalie.

The last team award went fittingly to the only senior on the team, Elly Manning. She was named the team MVP for her 24 goals and 12 assists on the season. Manning had three hat tricks on the season including a game winner against Mediapolis to start the season. Her season high was 5 goals against Fairfield. Moreover, on senior night, she led the Panthers with 2 goals in a 3-0 win over Washington. Manning was also named 1^st team All-Conference.

Sonya Simon, a sophomore, was also named 1^st team All-Conference for her defensive play.

Tori Wilson and Bizzie Richtman, both sophomores, earned 1^st team Honorable Mention. Wilson had 10 goals and 7 assists and Richtman was a staunch part of the Panthers tough defense.

Mt. Pleasant finished the season with an 11-6 record and finished 3^rd in conference. It was the Panthers 5^th consecutive winning season.

High School Soccer

The boys’ state quarterfinals finished up play with Class 4A yesterday. Ankeny Centennial defeated Valley in a big upset taking down the #1 seed. Johnston defeated Prairie 3-0. Iowa City West took down Cedar Rapids Kennedy 2-0 and Dowling Catholic came out with the win 2-1 over Ames.

The state tournament will get back to action today.

The girls’ state quarterfinals started yesterday and here are the results. Des Moines Christian and Gilbert each defeated their opponents 2-0 yesterday. Bishop Heelan pulled off the upset against Nevada 1-0. Lastly, Assumption took down Van Meter 2-0. 

Waverly-Shell Rock continued their dominance defeating North Polk 4-1 in Class 2A. Pella snuck past ADM 1-0. Dallas Center-Grimes handled Marion 10-0 and North Scott netted three to take down Spencer.

Waukee Northwest defeated the preseason favorite Ankeny Centennial 2-0. Valley won 2-0 against Pleasant Valley. Dowling Catholic was the second 7th seed to pull off the upset winning 1-0 over Ankeny. Lastly, Johnston ran away with a 5-0 win over Linn-Mar. 

The state tournament will continue tomorrow.

High School Baseball

Mt. Pleasant will continue their series against Washington tonight at home with first pitch at 7:30 pm.

Winfield-Mt. Union will face off against Highland at home tonight.

Danville will compete against Van Buren County today.

Central Lee took down New London last night 18-6 after a 9 run 4th inning for the Hawks. Tate Welcher notched 3 RBIs for the Tigers. Central Lee will take on West Burlington tonight on the road. 

New London will host Keota tonight.

High School Softball

Mt. Pleasant traveled to Wapello last night and after waiting out a lightning delay exited with the 8-3 win over the Arrows. The Panthers jumped on the board first after an Emma Starr walk and Addison Clark double put runners on 2nd and 3rd, a subsequent wild pitch would score Starr. Saige Burchett would tally an RBI in the 2nd inning to make it 2 to 0. An Ada Boysen home run would cut the lead in half for the Arrows.

The Panthers and Arrows would enter the 6th inning tied at 3, but an RBI single by Keagyn Coleman and heads up baserunning by Meadow Carter would put the Panthers ahead 4 to 3. The 7th inning was where the Panthers broke it open starting with a 2 run homer by Jersey Beachy to make it 6 to 3. Coleman and Kynlee White would bat home the other runs. The Panthers will face off against Washington at home tonight.

Winfield-Mt. Union will host Highland this evening.

Danville will look to get back in the win column against Van Buren County tonight.

Holy Trinity Catholic will look to take down Mediapolis today.

New London will host Holy Trinity Catholic tomorrow, June 2nd.

High School Tennis

The boys’ state team tournament began yesterday and these are the results. In Class 1A, Pella shut out Ballard and Wahlert Catholic 5 sets to 0. Cedar Rapids Xavier defeated Glenwood 5 sets to 2 and Decorah 5 sets to 0. Pella will take on Xavier today for the championship. Decorah and Wahlert Catholic will face off for 3rd place.

In Class 2A, Waukee Northwest and Iowa City West dominated the competition to make it to the championship game today. Linn-Mar will take on Pleasant Valley for 3rd place. 

Iowa Baseball

The Hawkeyes will open up play in the NCAA tournament against North Carolina tomorrow, June 2nd, at 6 pm.

This Day in Sports History

1925 – Future NY Yankees Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig pinch hits for shortstop Pee-Wee Wanninger in a 5-3 loss to Washington; first of record 2,130 consecutive games.

1943 – Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Rip Sewell patents his “eephus” or “blooper ball” pitch; uses pitch on way to a 20-win campaign.

2012 – Johan Santana throws first no-hitter in the New York Mets’ 50-year MLB history when he beats the St. Louis Cardinals, 8 – 0.