Metro Sports Report

Registration begins for 2021 IWSL season

Registration has begun for the Iowa Women's Softball League for the 2021 campaign next summer.

Everyone who played in the IWSL this year will get a 50 percent  discount if they register by Sept. 30. Instead of paying the player fee of $100, you will pay only $50 to secure a spot for next year.

If you ultimately decide not to play in 2021, you will receive a full refund with no questions asked. If you think you might want to play, it's better to claim a spot now for half-price and not worry about it  later.

The 50 percent discount applies to everyone who was assigned to a team  for the entire 2020 campaign and to substitutes as well, even if you played in only one game all year.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

The player fee will be $75 for everyone - returning players and new  players - from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31. The fee will be $100 for everyone who registers from Jan. 1 through the start of the season.

The registration process is the same as usual. Go to  MetroSportsReport.com and click on the registration link that  accompanies this story. Have a credit card handy to pay through PayPal.

Emil's Hideaway claims IWSL title

WALKER - Emil's Hideaway won an incredibly tight race for the Iowa Women's Softball League title Sunday in Walker.

Emil's Hideaway blanked Ironside Apparel, 1-0, in the first game of their doubleheader to clinch top honors for the 2020 campaign. Ironside took the nightcap, 8-2.

Emil's finished with an 8-5-1 record to nip Bosch Financial for the crown by a half-game in the standings. Bosch Financial, the 2019 champs, finished with a 7-5-2 record. Ironside finished with a 7-7 mark.

All three teams had a shot at the title when the day began.

Abby Carlin of Western Illinois tossed a one-hitter with five strikeouts as Emil's trimmed Ironside, 1-0, in the first game of their twinbill to secure the title.

Brie Tauber of Clarke scored the only run in the top of the first inning after leading off the game with a single. She scored on a fielder's choice by Avery Guy of Iowa.

IWSL title going down to the wire

WALKER - The race for top honors in the Iowa Women's Softball League is going down to the final day of the season.

The championship will be decided this Sunday in Walker with three teams still in contention for the title.

Emil's Hideaway holds a one-game lead in the incredibly tight standings with a 7-4-1 record. Bosch Financial sits in second place with a 6-5-1 mark, with Ironside Apparel in third place with a 6-6 record.

Any of the three teams could claim the title heading into their final doubleheaders. Sunday's drama will begin with a doubleheader between the Metro Sports Report and Bosch Financial at 11 a.m., followed by the twinbill between Emil's Hideaway and Ironside Apparel at 3 p.m.

Nothing was decided Sunday as all four teams split their doubleheaders.

Great catch by Lewis saves Emil's

WALKER - A sensational catch by Morgan Lewis help Emil's Hideaway move  into sole possession of first place in the Iowa Women's Softball  League Sunday.

Lewis made a fantastic diving grab in right-center field with the  bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the last inning to keep the  tying runs from scoring as Emil's trimmed the Metro Sports Report,  5-2, in the first game of their doubleheader.

Emil's rallied with three runs in the bottom of the last inning in  Game 2 for a 3-2 triumph and the sweep.

Lewis, who will attend Eastern Illinois this year, raced from her  position in center field to snare the blast by Liz VanManen of  Jacksonville State.

Abby Carlin of Western Illinois and Emma Olejniczak from Iowa shared  the pitching for Emil's in the 5-2 victory. Carlin and Olejniczak  tossed three innings, allowing one run apiece.

Brie Tauber of Clarke went 2-for-3 with a double and scored twice for  Emil's. Adara Opiola from UNI and Lewis had two hits.