A trip to the state tournament this summer would be the third straight for the East Marshall softball team. The Mustangs have several starters back from last years team that finished 28-8. They opened this season ranked third in class 3A.

East Marshall coach Jary Hosky who says his players are motivated by last year’s first round loss at the state tournament and he has seen a lot of improvement in them. He says they team has talked about getting back to the state tournament, but he says that’s a long road that is just starting.

Hosky expects plenty of competition in the West Division of the North Iowa Cedar League. The Mustangs have won five of their last six games and return to action Wednesday night at home with a doubleheader against Gladbrook-Reinbeck.

(Reporting by Chris Varney KGRN Grinnell)