The Iowa State Softball Tournament began yesterday, and a couple of area Class 4A teams were in action.

Pella was a team that took everyone by surprise. The Lady Dutch qualified for state after finishing in fifth place in the Little Hawkeye Conference with a 4-7 conference record. But they slipped by Knoxville, upset #2 Indianola and dominated upset-minded Marion in the regional final to make state.

Their miraculous run will continue, as they knocked off #6 Fort Dodge, 3-2. Their next game will not be an easy one, as they take on the two-time defending state champion Fillies from Dallas Center-Grimes. DCG is #9 in the final rankings, but has played better of late with a healthy Rachel Lowary leading the way.

The Lady Dutch did have two conference games with the Fillies this year, and split the pair. In Pella on June 3rd, DCG got an 8-4 win, and in Dallas Center on June 18th, Pella pulled off a 10-8 win. The rubber match will determine who will play for a state championship, and will begin at 7:30 PM Thursday at the Harlan Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.

Dallas Center-Grimes punched their ticket to the semifinals by knocking off Fairfield in a thrilling 1-0 game in 12 innings. DCG scored an unearned run off an error in the bottom of the 12th to get the win, and send Fairfield home in heartbreaking fashion.

We’ll keep posting updates from the state softball tournament as the week moves on KBOE and KMZN.