2014 Regional High School Softball Pairings

The softball teams at Cedar Falls, Waterloo East and Waterloo West will all begin their journey to the state tournament on the road, while Waterloo Columbus Catholic and Waverly-Shell Rock both open post-season play at home. Regional games across the state begin in two weeks.

Cedar Falls and East will have to win three regional games apiece to qualify for the state tournament in Class-5A. West must win two after getting a bye into the regional semfinals.

Cedar Falls opens post-season play with a regional quarterfinal game at Mason City on Thursday, July 10, 2014. The winner travels to Ankeny on Saturday, July 12, while Waterloo West plays at Waukee in the other regional semifinal. The regional title game is scheduled for Monday, July 14, and could feature Cedar Falls and West playing for a trip to state.

Waterloo East is in a different Class-5A region. The Trojans begin journey to state with a regional quarterfinal game at Cedar Rapids Kennedy on July 10. Cedar Rapids Washington hosts the winner two nights later. Other teams in the bracket are Des Moines East and Southeast Polk.

Waterloo Columbus Catholic will be competing for a state tournament berth in Class-3A. The Sailors open regional play with a home game against La Porte City Union on Tuesday, July 8. The winner heads to Le Grand on Friday, July 11 and would likely play East Marshall, which is currently ranked second in the state.

Another team ranked this week is Waverly-Shell Rock. The 12th-ranked Go-Hawks open regional play with a semfinal game against either Charles City or Webster City on July 12. The regional title game is scheduled to be played on Tuesday, July 15.

Despite being ranked in the latest Class-4A poll, Waverly-Shell Rock could have a difficult road to the state tournament. The Go-Hawks are one of three teams in the five-team region currently ranked. West Delaware is 11th and Charles City is 13th in the latest poll released by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

The regional tournament begins on Monday, July 7 with first-round games in Class-1A. In all, 345 teams will be competing for a state tournament berth when the regional tournament begins. Only 40 will make -- eight in each class.

The state tournament runs July 21-25 at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge.