Metro Sports Report

Daggett steers Mustangs to wins

HUTCHINSON, Kan. - Kayla Daggett rolled up 102 assists Friday to help  the Mount Mercy women's volleyball team open the season with a pair of  tight victories at the KCAC Challenge in Hutchinson, Kan.

Daggett accumulated 55 assists as the Mustangs topped Friends, 23-25,  25-18, 24-26, 25-17, 15-10, in a five-set thriller. She then had 47  assists as the Mustangs defeated Oklahoma Wesleyan, 25-23, 24-26,  25-15, 18-25, 15-6, in another five-set marathon.

Maddie Bell led Mount Mercy with 16 kills against Friends. Olivia  Makinen and Alyssa Weldon had 13 kills and Torie Alexander had 11.  Weldon had 18 digs, Gabi Delsing 17 and Alexander 13 against Friends.

Mount Mercy drops 2019 soccer openers

Both Mount Mercy soccer teams suffered tight losses in the 2019 season openers at the Plaster Athletic Complex Wednesday.

The Mount Mercy women lost to Briar Cliff, 2-1, and the Mount Mercy  men were trimmed by St. Francis (Ill.), 2-1, in overtime.

Carly Walker scored for the Mustang women in the first half for a 1-0  lead with an assist from Abby Estabrook. Briar Cliff scored twice in  the second half for the victory. Sarah Johnson made seven saves for Mount Mercy.

Registration begins for 2020 IWSL campaign

Things keep getting better and better for the Iowa Women’s Softball League. Now it's time to move forward again.

The IWSL concluded its third season this past Sunday and the players, coaches, administrators and fans all agreed it was the best year yet. With that in mind, it’s time to begin thinking about next year.

Registration for the 2020 campaign officially began on Thursday, Aug.  1 for everyone who played this season. Click on the registration link that appears with this story and have a credit card handy to enroll.

Yes, it’s early. And yes, it’s almost impossible for college softball players to plan that far ahead. That’s all true.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

But here’s the flip side: All of the players who register in August have nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

All the returning players who enroll in August will get a 50 percent discount off the normal registration fee and pay only $50 instead of $100. They can save themselves a spot in the league for next summer and not have  to worry about getting locked out.

Bosch edges Ironside for IWSL title

The race for the championship of the Iowa Women's Softball League came  down to the very last pitch in the very last game of the year Sunday.

Ally Johnson of UNI delivered an RBI single with two outs in the  bottom of the seventh inning to snap a 3-3 tie and give Emil's  Hideaway a dramatic 4-3 victory over Ironside Apparel at Busse Field.

The outcome prevented Ironside Apparel from winning the IWSL  championship and handed the crown to Bosch Financial.

Bosch Financial finished with a 10-3-3 record for the 16-game season,  with Ironside finishing at 8-3-5.

EMIL'S HIDEAWAY PLAYS SPOILER

Emil's Hideaway played its best softball of the season Sunday in the  final doubleheader of the year, tying Ironside Apparel 2-2 in the  opener and claiming the 4-3 verdict in the nightcap.

The second game was tied, 3-3, entering the bottom of the seventh.  Skylar Hop of Mount Mercy and Katie Smith of Ellsworth led off the  bottom of the seventh with singles, but Emily Oler of Mount Mercy got  the next two outs before Johnson came to the plate.

Johnson roped a base hit to left-center that drove in the winning run  and ended the game.