Iowa High School Softball State Tournament Day 2: Key Games and Scores

Cedar Rapids Kennedy Advances Past Pleasant Valley (7‑1)

Tuesday’s action kicked off with the top‑seed Kennedy beating Pleasant Valley in a dominant 7‑1 display at Harlan Rogers Sports Complex. The victory pushes Kennedy into a rematch with Dallas Center‑Grimes later in the evening. Pleasant Valley’s season ended immediately after the loss, dropping out of the double‑elimination bracket.

The game highlighted Kennedy’s offensive depth, though the exact run‑by‑run details are not detailed in the report. No further standout performances are mentioned, keeping the focus on the final outcome.

Waukee Northwest Cruises Over Dallas Center‑Grimes (4‑1)

Waukee Northwest secured a solid 4‑1 win over Dallas Center‑Grimes, maintaining its perfect 2‑0 tournament record. The Wolves opened the scoring in the first inning with a series of errors and hits that brought home three runs. Freshman Maya Twigg’s single drove in a crucial run, while Kenley Sanger’s solid catching helped pitcher Sophia Schlader dominate.

Schlader recorded 12 strikeouts, praising her command and Sanger’s reliability behind the plate. Schlader’s confidence in her strike‑zone work and the catcher’s support were key to the outing. Dallas Center‑Grimes managed a single run in the fourth inning, but could not surmount the Wolves’ pitching.

The loss puts Dallas Center‑Grimes in an elimination game against Cedar Rapids Kennedy at 8 p.m., with the winner advancing to face Waukee Northwest in a potential title‑game showdown.

Remaining Double‑Elimination Games

Two quarterfinal matchups were slated for later Tuesday. Valley faces Dowling Catholic at 3:30 p.m. CT, while Ankeny Centennial takes on Southeast Polk at 5:45 p.m. CT. These games will decide which teams continue their runs in the Class 5A bracket.

The day’s schedule concluded with Dallas Center‑Grimes squaring off against Cedar Rapids Kennedy at 8 p.m. CT. Both teams are on the brink of elimination, making this a must‑watch contest. The winner of this matchup will earn a spot in the next round, where a double win may be required to reach the championship.

What It Means Moving Forward

The double‑elimination format adds drama, as a single loss ends a team’s tournament unless they later win twice. Waukee Northwest’s strong start and firing pitching give it a solid position to advance deep into the finals. Meanwhile, the remaining games will shuffle the leaderboard, setting up potential high‑stakes battles for a coveted state title.