Action resumes this afternoon with action in the 2A semifinal round. In one match-up, it’ll be top-ranked and defending champion Solon against #4 Clear Creek-Amana. Solon won two regular season games against Clear Creek-Amana. Also in 2A, Albia played Woodward-Granger. Albia coach Larry Achenbach says his team’s regular season schedule has prepared them for the tournament. “We played a tough schedule,” he said. “Of our nine losses, eight of them have been to 3A or 4A schools…Now we’ve got to perform.” Woodward-Granger pitcher Josie Barrow says at this point runs are even more difficult to get and scoring first is even more important. “If you get down in a game, especially in the state tournament, your confidence is going to go down and you’re not going to play as well as you want to,” she said. In 4A, fourth-ranked Davenport West is hoping for a good start against top-ranked Cedar Rapids Jefferson. The Falcons did that in an opening round win againstr Fort Dodge. West coach Steve Saladino says the three games in three days format for class 4A is fine with him because there’s less time for the pressure to settle in on the team. The other 4A game finds 3rd-ranked Dowling Catholic facing Linn-Mar.In class 3A, #3 Spirit Lake will play #2 Winterset and Cedar Rapids Xavier will play Waukee.
