Iola High’s Fillies may get to see a new Pioneer League rivalry develop a few months early on the softball diamond.
The third seed Fillies may potentially face off against top seed Santa Fe Trail in the upcoming Class 4A-II Regional Tournament, hosted by Anderson County High School, Garnett.
Santa Fe Trail — based in Melvern — is joining the Pioneer League for the 2014-15 season in all sports.
But, first things first.
The Fillies, seeded third at 8-12, must first get by formidable Burlington (16-4), the second seed. First pitch is scheduled for 4:45 p.m. Monday at the Anderson County High School softball diamond. Meanwhile, Santa Fe Trail (13-3) is the top seed and will face fourth seed Anderson County (3-17).
Semifinal winners will face off at about 6:30 p.m. Monday with a berth in the Class 4A-II State Tournament May 29-30 in Pratt on the line.
HUMBOLDT HIGH’S Lady Cubs have rolled through the 2014 campaign with one of the most dominating seasons in history.
As its reward, Humboldt (18-0) gets to partake in one of the toughest Class 3A regional tournaments around. Three other teams have 16-2 records or better.
The Lady Cubs are the top seed and will face either fourth seed Jayhawk-Linn (16-2) or fifth seed Central Heights (9-11) at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the USD 258 Sports Complex just east of Humboldt.
The other side of the bracket has some high-flying opponents. Second seed Wellsville (18-2) plays seventh seed West Franklin (1-17), while Osage City (18-2) plays Erie (9-11) in its quarterfinal. The other quarterfinal winners will square off at about 4:45 in Humboldt, with the championship game to follow at about 6:30 p.m.
The winner advances to the state tournament in Topeka.
YATES CENTER IS THE top seed and host for the Class 2-1A Regional, which also includes Marmaton Valley.
Yates Center (16-4) has a bye into the semifinals, where it will face either fourth seed Marmaton Valley (2-16) or fifth seed Rosalia-Flinthills (1-15). Marmaton Valley hosts Flinthills in a quarterfinal matchup at 5:30 p.m. Monday. The winner takes on Yates Center at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Yates Center.
In the other semifinal, second seed Uniontown (10-6) faces third seed Altoona-Midway (2-11), with the semifinal winners facing off in the championship game about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The regional champ goes on to the state tournament in Great Bend.
