FORT DODGE, Iowa — Two Iowa Quad Cities teams have advanced to state championship games for another year.
Pleasant Valley and Davenport Assumption are returning to the Class 5A and Class 3A state championship games, respectively, after falling short of a state title last year.
The 2024 State Softball Tournament began Monday at the Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge. A total of 40 high school teams made it to this year's tournament. All five state championship games will be broadcast on-air and online by Iowa PBS.
Pleasant Valley beat Urbandale 4-2 on Wednesday, advancing them to the state title game against West Des Moines Valley. That game will take place at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 25.
"They have a lot of experience being here so they know what it takes to play in that situation and they were ready to get back here ever since losing the championship last year," Interim Head Coach Amanda Ray said.
"I am so pumped. I think that everything we've worked for this season has led up to this point," rising PV senior Sarah Rigdon said. "We haven't taken any breaks along the way. We've had our foot on the gas pedal the whole time and we're ready."
In Class 3A, Davenport Assumption beat the Benton Bobcats out of VanHorne 10-7 on Wednesday. Assumption will now play Williamsburg at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, July 26, in a rematch of last year's 3A title game.
"It's great. I mean, we kind of defied the odds. People didn't even think we'd make it here," sophomore Kathryn Snyder said. This year's team has one senior and is mostly made up of underclassmen.
"This is kind of a unique situation, not very often are we the underdog," Head Coach Tyler Edwards said. "That was an opportunity for us. We got nothing to lose."
North Scott will compete for third place in Class 4A against North Polk. That game will take place on Thursday, July 25, at 6 p.m.
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