Softball pairings announced

It?ll be a familiar opponent for the Washington softball team when the postseason rolls around.

The Demons are scheduled to take on Fairfield on July 9 in their postseason opener, according to the pairings released by the Iowa Girls? High School Athletic Union on Monday night.

The Demons (2-17) were swept in their two games against the Trojans (15-5) earlier in the season by scores of 9-2 and 5-3. The teams were supposed to play a doubleheader on Monday night, but weather forced them to move the games to June 30.

Washington is currently on a four-game losing streak, their last win coming on June 13 against Davis County, and will look to get a pair of victories against Mt. Pleasant on Tuesday night.

The new No. 1 ranked team in Class 2A, Highland, will have a bye coming into the postseason.

On July 8, the Huskies (12-2) will take on the winner of North Cedar and Tipton, and if the Huskies win their first game, will host the winner of Durant and Wilton.

After suffering its first conference loss (5-2 to Columbus) in over two years, Highland has gone 10-1, with its only loss in that span coming to Class 3A No. 2 ranked Solon.

During that stretch, the Huskies have outscored their opponents 92-15 (including the 7-0 loss to Solon), as well as only giving up two runs over the last six games.

Elsewhere in Class 2A, the Columbus softball team will travel to take on Regina in its first postseason game on July 8.

The Wildcats are sitting at 8-5 this season, after a 12-2 victory over Mediapolis on Monday night, and have won three of their last four games.

Regina is sitting at 10-10 this year, after starting off the season at 6-2. After that stretch, they have gone 4-8, including a five-game losing streak, before bouncing back with a split against Wilton on Monday night.

The other ranked team in the area, No. 9 ranked Mid-Prairie, will host its first game in the Class 3A tournament on July 8, as they welcome Central Lee.

The Hawks (17-7) have been on a tear lately, winning seven-straight games, while Central Lee (6-16) has been going the opposite direction, losing eight of its last nine games.

If the Hawks advance, they will take on the winner of No. 2 ranked Solon and Williamsburg on the road.

In Class 1A, Iowa Mennonite (1-12) will be taking on HLV (10-8) on the road on July 6, and the winner will take on Don Bosco on July 8.

In Region 5, Keota (1-14) will face Harmony (0-11) in an opening-round game in Keota on July 6.

The winner of that contest will face New London on July 8.