SPRINGVILLE — Sometimes, simulation is better than the real thing.
After stepping into the batter’s box against assistant coach Arin Pershing day after day, the Springville Orioles enter game situations ready to hack away.
“We do a lot of live hitting off Arin, and she throws really hard, even when she’s not pitching full speed,” said center fielder Kalli Wittenburg.
The 10th-ranked Orioles scored early and often, tallying in each of the first five innings in a 9-1 romp over Central City in a Class 1A first-round regional softball game Wednesday night at Binley …

Spring swings have led to a dramatic summer transformation.
A softball program accustomed to wallowing in the depths of the Tri-Rivers Conference, Maquoketa Valley underwent a stirring flip-flop this summer. Winners of only two league games a year ago, the Wildcats quadrupled their league scoring output and captured the Tri-Rivers championship.
“The only thing we’ve done differently, really, is a lot of hitting in the spring,” said first-year head coach Ali Scherman.
Maquoketa Valley hopes to extend its turnaround into the postseason. The Wildcats (21-15) face 14th-ranked Alburnett (28-9) in a Class 2A …

Spring swings have led to a dramatic summer transformation.
A softball program accustomed to wallowing in the depths of the Tri-Rivers Conference, Maquoketa Valley underwent a stirring flip-flop this summer.
Winners of only two league games a year ago, the Wildcats quadrupled their league scoring output and captured the Tri-Rivers championship.
“The only thing we’ve done differently, really, is a lot of hitting in the spring,” said first-year head coach Ali Scherman.
Maquoketa Valley hopes to extend its turnaround into the postseason. The Wildcats (21-15) face 14th-ranked Alburnett (28-9) in a Class 2A regional …

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All Charles City’s struggling offense needed was a couple of timely base hits to fall to spark a rally.
The Comets had struggled to do just that in recent games, particularly with runners in scoring position at crucial times in the game.
Charles City’s bats finally picked up the timely hits during Tuesday’s Northeast Iowa Conference baseball doubleheader with Oelwein.
The Comets picked up a key hit late in game one for a 2-1 win, then used a hot set of bats from the start in game two to earn the …

Cedar Rapids Xavier won a doubleheaders (8-2, 8-3) against Linn-Mar last night in Marion. Here is a photo slideshow by photographer Cliff Jette of the game