Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

 

The Matchups

No. 3 Louisa-Muscatine (35-6) vs. Wilton (25-15)

One team will get their first state quarterfinal win when these two rivals separated by less than 30 miles meet in Fort Dodge.

Louisa-Muscatine brings an 11-game winning streak into its first state tournament appearance and has seven of its 20 shutouts this season during its current win streak.

Wilton is making its fourth trip to state and first since 2009 but has never won an opener at the state tournament.

Following a 15-13 start to the season the Beavers have won 10 of their last 12 games and outscored opponents 21-5 in three regional wins.

Only four of the 15 losses for Wilton have come to Class 2A competition including a 5-3 loss to Louisa-Muscatine back on May 26.

 

No. 6 Central Springs (27-3) vs. No. 8 Logan-Magnolia (27-6)

A couple of recent state tournament regulars meet in matchup of potent offensive squads seeking a semifinal spot.

Logan-Magnolia and Central Springs are both making their fourth consecutive state tournament appearance and both teams have the ability to put up runs.

Central Springs averages 10.3 runs per game and ranks fourth in 2A with a .411 team batting average while Logan-Magnolia is putting up 8.9 runs per game and hitting .376 as a team which is sixth best in 2A.

Logan-Magnolia is led by senior Kylan Straight (.608) but has three other players hitting .396 or better highlighted by Megan Wilson who is hitting .484 with a team-high 40 RBI

Central Springs has starters batting over .400 led by Hannah Ausenhus (.448) and Anna Dietrich (.415) who have combined for 17 home runs and 93 RBI.

 

No. 4 Des Moines Christian (22-6) vs. No. 15 Earlham (27-11)

If you are a fan that likes offensive production this could be the game for you.

Des Moines Christian and Earlham have been among the top offensive teams in Class 2A this season and will meet in an intriguing quarterfinal.

Des Moines Christian leads 2A with 31 home runs this season and ranks fourth in 2A with a .384 team batting average.

Earlham is hitting .370 as a team and has scored more runs (313) than any other team in the 2A field.

Taylor Hipsley (.514, 41 RBI) and freshman Alli Boyle (.496, 45 RBI) set the pace for Earlham while Des Moines Christian is led by senior Olivia Penland (.525, 12 HR, 47 RBI) and Emma Veenstra (.532, 8 HR).

Des Moines Christian is making its fifth state tournament appearance and first since finishing runner-up in 1A in 2012.

Earlham is back at state for the seventh time and first since winning the 2A crown in 2014.

 

No. 5 Alta-Aurelia (22-3) vs. No. 10 Regina (23-15)
The defending champion and state tournament regular Regina meets the newcomer in Alta-Aurelia.

Regina is seeking a fourth consecutive title game appearance in its fourth straight trip to state after winning titles in 2015 and 2017.

The Regals have played their tradition tough schedule with 10 losses to 4A or 5A competition and enter riding a six-game winning streak in which they have outscored opponents 43-1.

Alta-Aurelia is making the first state trip in program history behind the pitching of junior Abby Kraemer who boasts a .90 ERA and a 2A-best 341 strikeouts in 156 1/3 innings.

Kraemer has struck out 15 or more in 13 of 25 games this season.

 

The Faces

LOUISA-MUSCATINE: Junior pitcher Isabelle True is 17-3 with a 1.40 ERA for the Falcons and is also a .340 hitter with a team-high five home runs and 31 RBI.

WILTON: One of the top freshman in the state Chloe Wells is hitting .504 with nine home runs and ranks third in the state with 60 RBI.

CENTRAL SPRINGS: Multi-talented junior Hannah Ausenhus has been impressive all over the field this season going 27-3 with a .88 ERA in the circle and hitting .448 with nine home runs and 38 RBI.  

LOGAN-MAGNOLIA: Among the top players in 2A over the past several seasons Kylan Straight has been at her best as a senior hitting .608 with 60 runs and 44 stolen bases.

DES MOINES CHRISTIAN: Senior Olivia Penland (.525 batting average) has a team-high 12 home runs for a Des Moines Christian team that leads 2A with 31 homers. 

EARLHAM: An all-around offensive threat senior Taylor Hipsley hits for average (.514), power (3 HR, 17 extra-base hits) and runs (20 stolen bases). 

ALTA-AURELIA: Among the most dominant pitchers in the state this season, junior Abby Kraemer has posted a 22-3 record and .90 ERA and ranks second in the state with 341 strikeouts in 156 1/3 innings.

REGINA: One of the top all-around players in 2A Katie Bracken is hitting .358 with 20 RBI and is 15-13 with a 2.78 ERA.  
 

The Favorite

The 2A field is as even and wide open as any of the five classes that will crown champs this week.

Don’t be fooled by the 13 losses, Regina is a legitimate title contender.

The Regals have reached the 2A title game each of the last three seasons, winning titles in 2015 and 2017 and have had at least 11 losses in all of those seasons.

Louisa-Muscatine is the top seed and highest ranked team remaining in 2A and comes to Fort Dodge with an 11-game winning streak and the regular season resume of a title contender.

 

The Forecast

Louisa-Muscatine has a tough opening round test with red-hot Wilton as the Falcons try to reach the 2A title game in their first ever state tournament appearance.

Regina must get past state newcomer Alta-Aurelia and star pitcher Abby Kraemer to reach the semifinals for a fourth consecutive season where it would face Des Moines Christian or Earlham.

 

The Focus

Will Regina reign again?

Regina rarely comes to Fort Dodge with a sparkling record or a target as the favorite but the Regals have left twice in the last three years with the hardware.

During its three-year stretch of title game appearances the Regals have entered the state tournament with 14, 17 and 11 losses.

There is a long list of teams capable of ending the title game streak for Regina starting with opening round foe Alta-Aurelia.

 

Five Fast Facts

*Alta-Aurelia senior Lily Peterson has homered 13 times in just 63 at bats and leads the state with a 1.349 slugging percentage.

*Against Class 2A competition this season Regina junior Katie Bracken has an 8-1 record and 1.30 ERA against 2A competition this season and has tossed 25 consecutive scoreless innings against 2A teams.

*Logan-Magnolia senior shortstop Kylan Straight has 274 career hits and owns a career .495 batting average.  

*Central Springs has scored double digit runs in 19 of 30 games this season and has put up 10 or more runs 17 times in its last 22 games.

* Louisa-Muscatine has posted shutouts in nearly half (20) of its 41 games this season and has held opponents scoreless in seven of its last 10.

 

The Schedule

Monday’s Quarterfinals

Louisa-Muscatine (35-6) vs. Wilton (25-15), 3 p.m.

Central Springs (27-3) vs. Logan-Magnolia (27-6), 3:30 p.m.

Des Moines Christian (22-6) vs. Earlham (27-11), 5 p.m.

Alta-Aurelia (22-3) vs. Regina (23-15), 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday’s Semifinals

Louisa-Muscatine/Wilton winner vs. Central Springs/Logan-Magnolia winner, 3 p.m.

Des Moines Christian/Earlham winner vs. Alta-Aurelia/Regina winner, 5 p.m.

Thursday’s Championship

Semifinal winners, 8:15 p.m.