Class 1A Regional Finals

Region 6: Riverside – 12 vs Stanton – 1

Region 1: Wayne 6 Seymour 1

Region 2: Clarksville – 11 vs Riceville – 1

Regiion 3: Newell-Fonda – 4 vs Woodbine – 1

Region 4: Highland – 6 vs Iowa Valley – 2

Region 5: Wapsie Valley – 14 vs Don Bosco – 2

Region 7: St. Edmond 11 Remsen, St. Mary’s 5

Region 8: Newman Catholic 2 Ankeny Christian 0

Class 2A Regional Finals 

Region 1: Van Meter – 9 vs Exira/EHK-Audubon – 4

Region 2: Louisa-Muscatine – 6 vs Pella Christian – 3

Region 3: West Lyon – 3 vs Hinton – 1

Region 4: East Marshall – 3 vs Osage – 2

Region 5: Durant – 4 vs Lisbon – 1

Region 6: West Monona – 5 vs Treynor – 1

Region 7: Cascade – 13 vs Beckman Catholic – 3

Region 8: West Fork – 3 vs Central Springs – 2

Once again, the Riverside Bulldogs dominated to earn their first trip to the state tournament since 2009, beating the Stanton Viqueens 11-1 in five innings Monday night. The bats were hot as seven different Bulldogs drove in runs while Adaline Martens went 2-for-2 with two extra-base hits. On the mound, Peyton Schafer was excellent. Despite giving up a solo home run in the first, she quickly recovered, allowing just three more singles the rest of the contest. Riverside exploded in the fourth, scoring six runs to punch their ticket to the state tournament.

Looking to pull off another road win, it was Stanton who struck first. After Schafer retired the first two batters, Kyla Hart sent one over the wall in left center to give the Viqueens a 1-0 lead. It wouldn’t take the Bulldogs long to respond. Adaline Martens led off with a triple, and in combination with an error and back-to-back base hits, Riverside scored each of their first three batters. Although they had the opportunity to take on, they settled with a 3-1 lead after an inning.

After the first, Schafer kept the Stanton bats quiet. Through her 4.o innings, she gave up just four hits, three of them singles, while striking out three. Although two of them reached scoring position, she and the bulldogs would strand one and throw out one on a wild 5-4-6 double play.

Although Riverside was held scoreless in the third, their patience at the plate shone through. The Bulldogs drew four walks in the inning, two of which came around to score. Despite leaving the bases loaded, they were in full control of the game.

Up 5-1 heading into the fourth, Riverside poured on the hits. Sophia Fenner led off the inning with a double and was quickly driven in by a Madison Kelly double as she drove in her second run of the game. Schafer made it three doubles in a row to extend the lead further while Sommers mixed in a single. Elly Henderson, Kayden Schnack, and Lili Reed would all drive in runs. In her second plate appearance of the inning, Fenner sent a hot shot to left that was too tough to handle, which sent the Bulldogs to the state tournament. Head coach Lacie Patterson credited her team’s offensive output to the work they did in the offseason.

After putting up a no-hitter on Friday, Schafer’s streak didn’t last long into the regional final. However, her ability to put things behind her has become a norm.

Patterson and the team are both excited for the upcoming trip.

As far as preparation goes, the mindset won’t change.

Riverside will head off to Fort Dodge on a string of dominant wins. The Bulldogs did not allow more than a single run in any of their three regional games. Offensively, all of their wins came by more than five runs, with two of them being ten-run margins.

What was once a 3-1 Exira-EHK Audubon lead turned into a 9-4 defeat to the Van Meter Bulldogs in the Class 2A Region 1 Championship game Monday night. Two aces took the circle with a trip to the state tournament on the line. Exira-EHK Audubon struck first blood in the third with a run and Van Meter answered with one. Exira-EHK Audubon put up two more in the third and Van Meter scored four to pull ahead 5-3. A four-run Bulldog seventh was too much for Exira-EHK Audubon to overcome and fell to the top-ranked team in Class 2A.

After a scoreless first two innings, Exira-EHK Audubon earned the momentum with a gorgeous bunt that rolled under two infielders’ glove for a single. Back to the top of the order and Junior Anna Larsen rocked one up the middle to score Junior Jordan Mulford. The lead didn’t last long as Van Meter responded with a run of their own. Sophomore Riley Miller issued a leadoff walk in the bottom of the third. Van Meter excelled in small ball all night long. A sacrifice bunt led to an RBI single by Mady Schnell to score Alice Ruggles. 1-1 after three.

Exira-EHK picked up right where they left offensively in the fourth by leading the inning off with a single. Patient plate appearances were crucial for Exira-EHK Audubon drawing back-to-back walks in the inning causing Van Meter to make a pitching change. Alissa Testroet ripped a base hit up the middle to put Exira-EHK Audubon back ahead by one. The very next play, a rare error committed by Finley Netten at shortstop gifted Exira-EHK Audubon a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth.

The Bulldog offense responded immediately with a solo home run to lead off the inning. The bats ramped up after the home run with back-to-back singles and a pair of stolen bases. Exira-EHK was left confused on a sacrifice bunt leading to an error and giving the Bulldogs a two-run lead after four. Sophomore Jilly Wosmansky hit her stride in the fifth and sixth by allowing just one baserunner in those two innings,

In the bottom of the sixth, a leadoff walk followed by a fielding error put runners on early for the Bulldogs. Van Meter’s leadoff hitter, Finely Netten smacked one off the scoreboard for a three-run home run and create a five-run spread. The damage wasn’t done as Miller issued a walk followed by a third Exira-EHK fielding error made it a 9-3 game.

In the seventh, a hit batter and a pair of singles from Miller and Lucy Stanerson gave Exira-EHK their fourth and final run of the game.

Head Coach Tom Petersen said he was proud of his team’s effort.

The situation of the bunt in the fourth caused confusion.

The two seniors left a major impact in the program.

Petersen says the offseason training will be vital to get back to this point next season.

Exira-EHK Audubon finishes at 16-12 in the first year of the merger between schools.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa junior Anthony Watts was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday in the 14th Round of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft. Watts was the 420th pick overall.

Watts is the 37th player drafted under head coach Rick Heller.

The Clive, Iowa, native had a 4-4 record with a 4.72 ERA in 24 apperances in 2025. He struck out 45 in 40 innings of work.

Watts, a Creighton transfer in 2023, had a career 8-8 record over 59 appearances and 11 starts. He struck out 129 batters over 129 innings.

The Hawkeyes closed the 2025 season with a 33-22-1 overall record. Iowa finished third in the Big Ten regular season standings and made their 10th straight Big Ten Tournament appearance.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa junior Aaron Savary was selected by the Cleveland Guardians on Monday in the 13th Round of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft. Savary was the 402nd pick overall.

Savary is the 36nd player drafted under head coach Rick Heller.

The Dubuque, Iowa, native had a 7-2 record with a 4.37 ERA in 15 starts in 2025. He struck out 82 in 80 1/3 innings of work.

Savary had a career 12-3 record over 45 appearances. He struck out 147 batters over 141 1/3 innings.

The Hawkeyes closed the 2025 season with a 33-22-1 overall record. Iowa finished third in the Big Ten regular season standings and made their 10th straight Big Ten Tournament appearance.

Iowa junior corner Deshaun Lee says an improved Hawkeye receiving corps is providing the secondary a difficult test. The Hawkeyes are into their second month of summer workouts as they get ready for the upcoming season.

Iowa had two key losses at safety from last season but Lee says good depth has helped provide competition.

Lee has started 15 games in the past two seasons and feels that experience is paying off.

Lee says in his first two seasons he focused too much on making big plays and it led to mistakes.

The Hawkeyes open at home on August 30th against the University of Albany.

Iowa sophomore guard Isaia Howard says he did not hesitate to follow coach Ben McCollum to Iowa City. The native of Plattsburg, Missouri, was one of six Drake players who are now on the Hawkeye roster after being part of a Drake team that posted a school record 31 wins and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Howard appeared in 30 games as a freshman and averaged just under five points per game.

Howard says under McCollum he learned the importance of defense and toughness.

Howard says the transition to Iowa has been a smooth one, both off and on the court.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa graduate student Daniel Wright was selected by the White Sox on Monday in the 10th Round of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft. Wright was the 286th pick overall.

Wright is the 35th player drafted under head coach Rick Heller.

The Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, native had a 2-2 record with a 3.41 ERA in 18 appearances in 2025. He struck out 20 in 29 innings of work.

A transfer from Houston, Wright had a career 6-5 record over 49 appearances. He struck out 60 batters over 80 innings.

The Hawkeyes closed the 2025 season with a 33-22-1 overall record. Iowa finished third in the Big Ten regular season standings and made their 10th straight Big Ten Tournament appearance.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa junior Cade Obermueller was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday in the second Round of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft. Obermueller was the 63rd pick overall.

Obermueller became the 34th player drafted under head coach Rick Heller when he was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 19th round in 2024.

The Iowa City, Iowa, native earned third-team All-America honors after going 5-3 with a 3.02 ERA in 15 starts in 2025. He posted five quality starts and fanned 117 batters over 83.1 innings. His 117 punchouts ranks second all-time in program history for strikeouts in a season.

Obermueller has appeared in 43 career games for the Hawkeyes with an 11-7 record and a 3.60 ERA. He started 30 games for Iowa and struck out 226 batters in 165 innings of work.

Obermueller is the son of former Hawkeye and current Director of Player Development, Wes Obermueller, who was selected in the second round by the Kansas City Royals.

The Hawkeyes closed the 2025 season with a 33-22-1 overall record. Iowa finished third in the Big Ten regular season standings and made their 10th straight Big Ten Tournament appearance.