Lenox, Mount Ayr teams advance

Karina Romero celebrates with her Murray teammates as she approaches home plate after hitting a grand slam home run Wednesday night against Lenox - her second home run of the game.

Lenox and Mount Ayr were winners in Class 1A regional quarterfinal softball games Wednesday night.

Karina Romero hit two home runs and drove in five runs for Murray, but the Lady Mustangs fell to Lenox, 14-6, in a Region 6 quarterfinal game at Creston. Lenox (15-12) hosts Stanton (11-10) in a semifinal game Friday night.

Izzy Curtis, Zoey Reed and Hadlee Christensen each drove in two runs in Lenox’s win over Murray. Reese Reed pitched 4 2/3 innings and had a pair of hits. Zoey Reed finished in the circle. Gracie Mathes and Paisley Van Winkle each had two hits for Murray, which bows out at 14-9.

Mount Ayr (11-9) plays at Riverside (22-3) in the other semifinal game after the Raiderettes defeated Bedford 10-0 Wednesday. Jalyn Akers knocked in five runs on a triple and single for Mount Ayr. Kenzie Barnes allowed one hit in four innings and added a pair of hits for Mount Ayr. Tarynn Dredge had two hits.

In baseball, Mount Ayr (17-4) plays at Lenox (19-9) in a Class 1A district final Saturday. The other district final in Substate 7 has Earlham (11-18) playing at Martensdale-St. Marys (28-5). The substate final will be played July 15.

East Union was eliminated by Earlham Tuesday night, 6-0.

Regional softball

Wayne 9, Moravia 1

Iowa Valley 7, Southeast Warren 4

Riverside 12, Lamoni 1

Mount Ayr 10, Bedford 0

Lenox 14, Murray 6

Stanton 12, Fremont-Mills 11

Martensdale-St. Marys 6, Collins-Maxwell 0

Van Meter 12, Kuemper Catholic 1

Interstate 35 10, West Central Valley 2

Earlham 7, Grand View Christian 1

Treynor 9, St. Albert 1

Griswold-CAM 6, Underwood 2

West Monona 6, Shenandoah 4

District baseball

Lynnville-Sully 16, Wayne 1

Ankeny Christian 5, Southeast Warren 3 (9 innings)

Martensdale-St. Marys 16, Stanton 1

Earlham 6, East Union 0

Lenox 10, East Mills 0

Mount Ayr 3, Bedford 2

Newell-Fonda 3, CAM 2

Logan-Magnolia 12, St. Albert 2

Interstate 35 15, Albia 5

Underwood 2, Clarinda 0

Treynor 8, Red Oak 1

Tri-Center 3, West Central Valley 0

Larry Peterson

LARRY PETERSON

Former senior feature writer at Creston News Advertiser and columnist. Previous positions include sports editor for many years and assistant editor. Also a middle school basketball coach in Creston.