FORT DODGE — Monday, July 20, marked the first day of the 2026 Iowa high school softball state tournament, and there is plenty of action happening in Class 5A.
The bracket of the state’s largest class is jam-packed with talent and includes six teams from Central Iowa. Remember, this year’s state tournament is double-elimination, meaning one loss does not eliminate a squad from contention for a state title.
Here is a recap of Class 5A’s games on Monday at the state tournament.
No. 1 Waukee Northwest 4, No. 8 Pleasant Valley 1
The Wolves leapt out to an early lead, thanks to strong pitching from Sophia Schlader and a four-run first inning at the plate. The sophomore pitcher struck out three batters in the opening frame, and then Northwest jumped onto offense.
Schlader led off with a double into left field, Alayna Schulte got on base with a bunt, and an infield single from Kenley Sanger drove in the Wolves’ first run of the game. Northwest added three more runs before the end of the first, and that’s what the score remained – 4-0 – through the top of the sixth, when Pleasant Valley picked up its first run.
Those four runs were enough for the Wolves to advance, though, and the reigning state champions are into the next round with a 1-0 record at the tournament.
“It’s a focus, just coming out with energy, attacking the ball, (it) helps them settle in if we can score early,” said head coach Carrie Eby. “And you saw that today, a little bit. They scored right off the bat and then kind of eased into some things.”
Schlader struck out nine and allowed three hits through seven innings.
No. 4 Dallas Center-Grimes 3, No. 5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy 1
The Mustangs scored 10 and 11 runs, respectively, in each of their two regional games leading into the tournament, but it was a much slower start for Dallas Center-Grimes in the quarterfinals. It took until the third inning for DCG to get a hit, and the Mustangs didn’t score until the bottom of the fifth – playing catch-up after Kennedy scored one run in the second.
Addie Abens got Dallas Center-Grimes on the board with a single that sent Hayden Smith home – and an error against Kennedy moved Abens to second and flex runner Denali Amos to third. Tessa Jones was walked, and Genevieve York hit a single that sent two runners home. The Mustangs took a 3-1 lead, which held into the seventh for the win.
“I was very excited,” said head coach Todd Merical when asked about Kennedy pitching to Abens. “It’s a tough call on their part, but Addie’s had a fantastic season. So, when I know she was going to get some pitches, that made me very happy.
“And Genevieve puts in extra work every single day. She’s taking extra cuts every single day, she’s taking extra grounders. That kid deserves everything good that comes her way.”
No. 2 Ankeny Centennial 12, No. 7 Dowling 2
The Jaguars jumped out to an early lead – 2-0 – in the first inning, but the second inning is really when Ankeny Centennial showed why they’re the No. 2 seed in this bracket.
With one out on the board, Kori Lincicum hit a double and sent two more runners home. One more out later and with bases loaded, Mylie Hatfield drilled a grand slam. Delaney Wyble stepped up to the plate next, and she knocked over another home run, giving Centennial a 9-0 lead by the end of the second.
Lincicum added a two-run home run of her own in the third, but that didn’t end the game, since Dowling picked up a pair of runs in the top of the inning. But despite the Maroons’ best effort, the Jaguars held them off the board in the fourth, and Centennial added one more run to end the game in four innings.
“This group’s here on a business trip this weekend,” said head coach Brett Delaney. “They just take it one out at a time, one game at a time, and (we’re) just very fortunate for the opportunity to be up here and enjoying it the best we can.”
From the circle, Peyten Spiegel allowed three hits and struck out seven. At the plate, Hatfield drove in five runs, and Lincicum scored four.
No. 6 Southeast Polk 13, No. 3 Valley 8
For fans of home runs, the final Day 1 matchup in the Class 5A bracket was the place to be.
The Rams got on the board first, stringing together a sacrifice fly and a pair of base hits into three runs in the opening frame. It didn’t take long for Valley to even the score, with Lily Finn drilling a three-run home run. Southeast Polk got another run – off a Valley error – in the top of the second, and the Tigers took their first lead with another three-run homer, this time off Isla Hervey’s bat.
That advantage didn’t last long, though, as Reese Curphy picked up a grand slam and Berkley Weiland added another RBI to give Southeast Polk a 9-6 lead. Neither team scored in the fourth, but the Rams outscored Valley, 5-2, in the final three innings – which included one more home run from each team.
“I think it was important the way our bats started in the first inning,” said Southeast Polk head coach Tia Stiles. “We generate everything off our bats. That is an awesome Valley team, but our kids, they just believe in each other and they keep fighting for each other. It’s fun to watch.”
Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at ahertel@dmreg.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Class 5A Iowa state softball tournament roundup, Waukee NW, DCG win
Reporting by Alyssa Hertel, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Alyssa Hertel, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
