Stiff tests await Panthers softball this weekend

Quality high school softball competition from all across the state will be in Creston this weekend.

The annual John Stephens Softball Classic will be held Friday and Saturday both at the high school field and at Southwest Iowa Community College’s field.

“The goal is to get good pairings and good matchups for everybody,” said Creston coach Mike McCabe.

Creston will have four games over two days. The Panthers open Friday at noon against Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson. The Panthers finish the day with a 7 p.m. contest against Class 5A No. 7 Ankeny.

Creston plays the final game of the tournament against defending Class 4A champion and third-ranked Dallas Center-Grimes.

Facing stiff competition this early in the season will help the Panthers going forward McCabe said.

“We know these are the kind of games we’re going to have to play come July,” McCabe said. “That’s why we like to play them each and every year.”

A tough schedule helps the Panthers come tournament time.

“It’s why we play these kind of tournaments; it’s why we go to Cedar Rapids Jefferson,” McCabe said. “It’s a win-win. It s good to go out and play, get better. Its a good, early measuring stick. It will be invaluable for us as far as some experience.”

The tournament features six rated teams and two others who’ve been in the poll early this season. Burlington is rated 15th in Class 5A, along with seventh-rated Ankeny. Treynor is ranked 12th in Class 2A. IKM-Manning is rated eighth in Class 2A. Clarke is ranked sixth in Class 3A. Atlantic is ranked 15th in Class 3A. Both Murray, in Class 1A, and Sioux City East, in Class 5A, have spent time in the polls.

Among regional teams in the field are Murray, Mount Ayr and Nodaway Valley, along with Hawkeye 10 schools Atlantic, Red Oak and Clarinda.

“There’s going to be some real good teams out there,” McCabe said.

Friday

At Creston High School

10:15 a.m. — Atlantic vs Murray

Noon — Creston vs. Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson

1:45 p.m. — Burlington vs. Atlantic

3:30 p.m. — Van Buren vs. Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson

5:15 p.m. — Sioux City East vs. Ankeny

7 p.m. — Creston vs. Ankeny

At SWCC

11 a.m. — Bondurant-Farrar vs Burlington

12:45 p.m. — Murray vs Van Buren

2:30 p.m. — SIoux City East vs Bondurant-Farrar

Saturday

At Creston High School

9 a.m. — Atlantic vs Clarke

10:45 a.m. — Atlantic vs Treynor

12:30 p.m. — Clarke vs Treynor

2:15 p.m. — Dallas Center-Grimes vs Sioux City East

4 p.m. — Sioux City East vs IKM-Manning

5:45 p.m. — IKM-Manning vs Van Buren

7 p.m. — Creston vs Dalls Center-Grimes

At SWCC

9 a.m. — Van Buren vs Nodaway Valley

10:45 a.m. — Mount Ayr vs Red Oak

12:30 p.m. — Van Buren vs Mount Ayr

2:15 p.m. — Clarinda vs Nodaway Valley

4 p.m. — Murray vs Red Oak

5:45 p.m. — Clarinda vs Murray