Iowa High School State Softball Tournament: Elimination Round Games Begin

All 40 teams are once again set for action at Rogers Park for state softball.

Waukee Northwest's Hazel Leinen (5) hits the ball for a single during the fifth inning the 5A high school softball at Rogers Softball Complex on July 20, 2026, in Fort Dodge, Iowa | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Day two of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union State Softball Tournament will bring with it the first of several elimination games at Rogers Park in Fort Dodge.

For the first time, the tournament is running under a double-elimination format, and after the handful of upsets fans saw on Monday, teams will be competing with their backs against the wall on Tuesday.

All 40 teams in the five classes will be in action on five separate diamonds spread around the complex.

Record-Breaking Opening Night With Upsets Aplenty

Monday night featured one of the longest games in state tournament history, as defending Class 1A state champion Clarksville moved into the winner’s bracket with a 12-11 victory in 15 innings over North Butler.

The contest took over four hours and featured several rallies by the Indians to stay alive, including a four-run seventh and a three-run 15th to win it.

Exira-EHK/Audubon, the top seed in Class 1A, was knocked off by Edgewood-Colesburg and star pitcher Rachel Egleseder, as she tied a 1A single-game record with 15 strikeouts. Southeast Warren set a single-game team scoring record with 21 runs in a victory over West Monona.

Tuesday’s Live Game Updates

High School On SI Iowa will be providing live updates throughout the day of all the action.

Top Seeds Rebound To Stay Alive

Both No. 1 seeds in Class 1A and Class 2A held off elimination for a little while longer, as Exira-EHK/Audubon and Grand View Christian posted wins.

Exira-EHK/Audobon eliminated West Monona while Grand View Christian did the same to Hinton.

All Square Early On Winner’s Side

Both the winner’s side of the bracket games in Class 1A and Class 2A are tied early. The Class 1A contest is knotted at 2-2 between Southeast Warren and Edgewood-Colesburg while the Class 2A game feature Iowa City Regina Catholic and Cardinal is tied up at 3-3.

The winner of those games will have a clear path to the championship, needing only one more win to reach the title round.

Sophia Schlader, Waukee Northwest Cruise

Sophomore sensation Sophia Schlader struck out 12, leading Waukee Northwest to a 4-1 victory over Dallas Center-Grimes. The defending Class 5A state champion is now one more win away from reaching the final round again.

Alayna Schulte had two hits, with Maya Twigg and Meredith Thomsen each driving in a run.

Three-Time Defending Champ Williamsburg Topped

Mount Vernon sent three-time defending Class 3A champion Williamsburg to an elimination game with a 5-4 victory. Brynlee Bettcher went deep and Hayden Gookin struck out five inside the circle.

The Raiders are attempting to become the first Iowa school to win four straight summer state softball championships. They will play later Tuesday night to stay alive.

Ankeny Centennial Adds To Record Home Run Total

Mady Ott went deep and Ankeny Centennial moved a win closer to reaching the Class 5A championship game with an 8-0 victory in six innings over Southeast Polk. The Jaguars got three hits and three RBI from Kori Lincium, as Lauren Sandholm pitched a three-hitter.

Hometown Fort Dodge, St. Edmond Each Fall

The two teams that share Rogers Park throughout the regular season will now be in win-or-stay-home games on Wednesday. In Class 4A, Fort Dodge fell to Carlisle, 8-3, as Rosemary Hemsted drove in three runs and Akyvia Freeman two.

In Class 1A, defending state champion Clarksville rallied - again - past St. Edmond, 5-4. The Indians won a 15-inning marathon contest Monday night over North Butler.

Iowa High School Softball State Tournament

Tuesday’s Games

Class 1A

• Exira-EHK/Audubon 11, West Monona 1
• Edgewood-Colesburg 8, Southeast Warren 5
• Remsen St. Mary’s vs. North Butler, 3 p.m.
• Clarksville 5, St. Edmond 4

Class 2A

• Grand View Christian 7, Hinton 4
• Iowa City Regina Catholic 6, Cardinal 2
• Logan-Magnolia 6, Durant 4
• Wapsie Valley 11, Ridge View 9

Class 3A

• PCM 7, West Liberty 0
• Mount Vernon 5, Williamsburg 4
• Albia 8, West Delaware 3
• Dubuque Wahlert Catholic 7, Van Meter 2

Class 4A

• Burlington 1, Winterset 0
• ADM 6, Western Dubuque 5
• North Polk 7, Clear Creek-Amana 4
• Carlisle 8, Fort Dodge 3

Class 5A

• Cedar Rapids Kennedy 7, Pleasant Valley 1
• Waukee Northwest 4, Dallas Center-Grimes 1
• West Des Moines Valley 6, Dowling Catholic 5
• Ankeny Centennial 8, Southeast Polk 0 (6 inn.)