Opening round state softball roundup

The 2023 Iowa high school state softball kicked off on Monday with Class 5A, 4A and 3A all in action.

Quarterfinal action gave softball fans plenty of drama.

In Class 5A, No. 1 seeded Ankeny Centennial ran through No. 8 Bettendorf 8-0 to move on.

No. 7 seeded Muscatine notched a big upset over No. 2 seeded Ankeny.

The Muskies scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to get past the Hawks.

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No. 4 Southeast Polk ended strong to get past No. 5 Valley 5-2. The Rams and Tigers were tied at 2-2 heading into the fourth, but the Tigers scored three between the fourth and fifth to win it.

Pleasant Valley, the No. 6 seed, was able to hold off No. 3 seeded and defending state champion Northwest 5-4.

Tied at 4-4 after five innings, the Spartans were able to put one on the board in the sixth to win it.

The losers move on to the consultation round.

Ankeny Centennial and Southeast Polk will battle for a spot in the title game at 11 a.m. on Wednesday. Pleasant Valley and Muscatine will face off at 1 p.m. in the semifinals.

In Class 4A, No. 8 North Scott stunned No. 1 North Polk 7-4.

North Polk led 4-3 after three innings, but North Scott scored four unanswered until the final out.

Another upset followed with No. 7 Winterset topping No. 2 Carlisle 11-5.

The Huskies led 5-0 after two innings and went on to score six between the fourth and sixth to advance.

No. 3 Fort Dodge cruised past No. 6 ADM 8-3.

ADM took the early 1-0 lead, but Fort Dodge scored seven between the third and fourth, which was more than enough to win it.

No. 4 Norwalk used a massive offense outburst to blow by No. 5 Western Dubuque 12-2.

The Warriors scored 10 runs in the first two innings against the Bobcats.

Fort Dodge and Winterset will play at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, while North Scott and Norwalk will follow at 1:30.

In the pair of 3A games, No. 1 Williamsburg dominated No. 8 Albia 11-1.

No. 5 Estherville Lincoln Central got the better of No. 4 Davis County 11-3 in the quarterfinals as well.

Williamsburg and Estherville Lincoln Central will faceoff on Wednesday at 3 p.m.

As of press time the other quarterfinal games were not completed.