North Mahaska will face a familiar as they open Class 1A Region 5 softball tourney play. They will host Montezuma and with a win will face the state’s number one team, Martensdale-St. Marys.
North Mahaska will face Montezuma for a third time this season. The Warhawks defeated Montezuma 14-2 to open the season then won 7-1 in New Sharon a couple weeks ago. They will host the Bravettes at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 30. The winner advances to the regional quarterfinal on Wednesday, July 5 at Martensdale.
MSM jumped to the top spot in Class 1A this week with a 20-4 record. They were ranked second behind North Linn a week ago. Teams in the top half of the bracket include BGM hosting Belle Plaine and HLV hosting Iowa Valley. Those two winners also play July 5.
In the bottom half of the bracket, Lynnville-Sully hosts Baxter and Colo-Nesco faces GMG in McCallsburg. The LS-Baxter winner will travel to No. 11 Earlham in the quarterfinals.
As of Thursday, North Mahaska and Montezuma have both posted 9-11 marks on the season. NM is fourth in the South Iowa Cedar League at 7-4 while Monte is sixth at 5-9. North Mahaska will close out the season at BGM Friday then hosting Baxter and Pleasantville on Saturday. They will wrap up the regular season at Pella on Tuesday.