Sportswriter Jeff Linder will provide live coverage of today’s state softball games with teams in our area.
The first is a game between Clear Creek Amana vs. Keokuk, which started at 4 p.m.
The second is a Class 2A semifinal game pitting No. 1 Conrad BCLUW (39-3) against local favorite Mount Vernon (31-12). at 5:30 p.m.
Prep Softball: BCLUW (39-3) vs. Mount Vernon (31-12), 5:30 p.m.

For a well-traveled coach like Gary Stamp, this is one long honeymoon period.
Stamp is in his fourth year of his 13th coaching job. He’s enjoying it as much as the day he was hired. Maybe more.
“This is a unique group of kids,” Stamp said. “They like the game. They like each other. They’re fun to be around.”
It’s more fun when you’re winning, of course. And these days, winning is all that female athletes at Mount Vernon High School are doing.
The Mustangs are reigning Class 2A state …

Lions to Brooklyn, Mustangs to Monticello.
And Zebras to Marion.
That’s the plan of action today for track and field athletes from southeast Linn County.
State-qualification meets —boys’ districts and girls’ regionals — will be held in all classes at 4 this afternoon.
(DISTRICT/REGIONAL ASSIGNMENTS can be found HERE.)
This is the sixth year for co-ed postseason competition, giving most fans a chance to see their boys’ and girls’ teams at one spot.
Not so for folks from Mount Vernon and Lisbon.
The girls’ program is merged and will defend its Class 3A state title next week …

MOUNT VERNON — This year, Bob Kintzel didn’t rush.
A week behind in practice in November, Kintzel didn’t try to make it up all at once.
“The last two years, because our kids had (advanced to the state volleyball finals), what I had done was rush too much,” said Kintzel, the girls’ basketball coach at Mount Vernon High School.
“This year, I took the approach of taking it a little slower, throw smaller details at them.”
The patience paid off. Oh, did it pay off.
The Mustangs closed with a rush, winning their final 12 …

DES MOINES — One team. One singular goal.
Throughout the season and all those wins, the postgame responses from the Linn-Mar Lions were generally the same.
Nice win, they would say, sometimes with a shrug. But it doesn’t mean much now. What matters is later.
Later has come and gone. That singular goal has been achieved.
Linn-Mar captured the Class 4A girls’ state basketball championship Saturday, capping a 26-0 season with a 38-35 win over Des Moines East.
“They had a focus. They had a goal,” said Linn-Mar Coach Mike Brandt. “From Day 1, they …

 
DES MOINES — The cameras clicked. The bulbs flashed.
The Mount Vernon Mustangs smiled. They swayed. They sang along with the late Freddie Mercury.
They are the champions, my friend.
Again.
Mount Vernon blazed in the fourth quarter and rallied past No. 2 Manson-Northwest Webster, 59-56, to win the Class 2A championship at the girls’ state basketball tournament last night at Wells Fargo Arena.
“The feeling is undescribable,” said Micah Wieditz, who provided a long-distance lift off the bench. “It feels like I’m in a dream right now.”
Yes, these are dreamy days for female athletes …

A look at the action at the girls’ state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Friday.
CLASS 4A SEMIFINAL
#1 Linn-Mar vs. #5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy
Time: Noon
Coaches: Mike Brandt is 145-62 in nine seasons at Linn-Mar. Dennis Roloff is 287-145 in 19 seasons at Kennedy. Both are seeking their first trip to the finals.
Top players: Kiah Stokes (6-3, jr.) paces Linn-Mar at 19.3 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. Kayla Klopfenstein (5-9, sr.) adds 12.1 points per game. Jade Rogers (5-11, sr.) averages 18.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per …

DES MOINES — By now, no accomplishment by these Mount Vernon girls should surprise you.
No victory, no championship seems out of reach these days.
The Mustangs put another notch into their recent run of glory Thursday afternoon, pulling away from No. 9 Roland-Story in the fourth quarter to win, 47-38, in a Class 2A semifinal at the girls’ state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena.
“It’s amazing,” said Liz Skotowski, who bounced back from an early-week flu bout to play a solid game. “This is what we’ve worked for all season.”
Mount Vernon (24-3) …

A look at the action at the girls’ state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Thursday.
CLASS 2A SEMIFINAL
Mount Vernon (23-3) vs. #9 Roland-Story (25-1)
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Coaches: Bob Kintzel is 58-11 in three years at Mount Vernon. Mike Frisk is in his 10th year at Roland-Story and owns a 166-67 mark.
Top players: Liz Skotowski (5-7, soph.) paces Mount Vernon at 12.0 points per game. Amanda Platte (6-1, jr.) adds 10.2 ppg. Maddie Oliver (6-2, jr.) is Roland-Story’s top player at 16.0 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. …

DES MOINES — Noting was automatic. Or easy.
“But we just kept pushing and we were able to get through it,” said Taylor Dicus.
Mount Vernon rallied from a six-point deficit in the final 4 1/2 minutes of regulation, owned overtime and outlasted 11th-rated Audubon, 53-45, in a Class 2A quarterfinal at the girls’ state basketball tournament Tuesday morning at Wells Fargo Arena.
“We got to overtime, and I was so excited,” said Sarah Ryan, who prolonged the game with a baseline jumper that tied the game with 55 seconds left in regulation. …