The girls state softball tournament changes tradition today by opening on a Tuesday. The new format this year will allow the championship games to be played on Saturday afternoon. The action begins in class 1A. Des Moines Christian is top ranked and takes a 36-2 record into its first tournament appearance against a Westwood team that is 18-21.
After that, number 4 Highland plays a Don Bosco team that is making its third straight appearance in the tournament after finishing second in each of the past two years. Ninth rated Stanton is 23-2 and goes up against an 11th rated Southeast Webster team that is 34-8 and second ranked New London takes on IKM Manilla. New London is 29-6 and is making it’s second straight appearance in the tournament after a sixth place finish in 2006.
The final games of the opening night will be in class 2A. After winning the state title in 2003 with a predominately young squad Solon looked like a dynasty in the making, but the Spartans have come up short the past three years. They finished third in 2004 and lost in the title game in each of the past two years. They enter this tournament 49-3 and top ranked.
They open against a Pleasantville team that is 25-14. Also in 2A, 14th ranked North Butler takes a 33-7 mark into a matchup with 29-8 Treynor. The rest of the opening round in class 2A is Wednesday night.