If the Metro area is to have a representative in the Class 5A state softball tournament, that team is going to have to fight its way through one of the top three ranked teams in the state.

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released the pairings for next month's regional tournaments on Monday and did no favors for the five Class 5A teams in the Metro.

Xavier, on the other hand, will get two games at home in the Class 4A tournament, giving the Saints a hand up in their bid for a state tourney berth.

Dates for the Class 5A and 4A regional tournaments are July 11 (quarterfinals), July 13 (semifinals) and July 16 (finals).

In Class 5A, Kennedy is in the region that includes top-ranked Ottumwa. The Cougars play a quarterfinal game at Iowa City West. The winner of that plays at Iowa City High in the semis. The final is scheduled for Ottumwa.

Ninth-ranked Jefferson and Washington are in the same region that includes No.3 Muscatine. The J-Hawks host Washington in a semifinal round game. Muscatine will play either Davenport Central or Bettendorf. The final is scheduled for Muscatine.

No.10 Prairie and Linn-Mar are in the same region with No.2 Pleasant Valley. The Hawks host the Lions in the semifinals. Pleasant Valley plays either Clinton or Davenport West. The final is set for Pleasant Valley.

No.7 Xavier received a bye into the semifinals where the Saints will host either Davenport North or North Scott. No.13 Washington, Iowa, is on the other side of the bracket and the Demons host either Fort Madison or Keokuk in the semis. The final is slated to be played at Xavier.

Marion is in the same Class 4A region with No.4 Carlisle and No.12 Benton. The Indians play at Vinton-Shellsburg in the quarterfinals. If they win they play at Benton. The regional final is scheduled for Carlisle.

Regional champions advance to the state tournament July 22-26 at Fort Dodge.

IGHSAU REGIONAL SOFTBALL PAIRINGS

CLASS 5A

Region 5
Quarterfinals
Thursday, July 11
Clinton at Davenport West, 7 pm

Semifinals
Saturday, July 13
Linn-Mar at CR Prairie, 7 pm
Clinton/Davenport West at Pleasant Valley, 7 pm

Finals
Tuesday, July 16
Semifinal winners at Pleasant Valley, 7 pm

Region 6
Quarterfinals
Thursday, July 11
Davenport Central at Bettendorf, 7 pm

Semifinals
Saturday, July 13
CR Washington at CR Jefferson, 7 pm
Davenport Central/Bettendorf at Muscatine, 7 pm

Finals
Tuesday, July 16
Semifinal winners at Muscatine, 7 pm

Region 7
Quarterfinals
Thursday, July 11
CR Kennedy at Iowa City West, 7 pm

Semifinals
Saturday, July 13
Burlington at Ottumwa, 7 pm
CR Kennedy/Iowa City West at Iowa City High, 7 pm

Finals
Tuesday, July 16
Semifinal winners at Ottumwa, 7 pm

CLASS 4A

Region 4
Quarterfinals
Thursday, July 11
Fort Madison at Keokuk, 7 pm
Davenport North at North Scott, 7 pm

Semifinals
Saturday, July 13
Fort Madison/Keokuk at Washington, Iowa, 7 pm
Davenport North/North Scott at CR Xavier, 7 pm

Finals
Tuesday, July 16
Semifinal winners at CR Xavier, 7 pm

Region 5
Quarterfinals
Thursday, July 11
Marion at Vinton-Shellsburg, 7 pm
Grinnell at Clear Creek Amana, 7 pm

Semifinals
Saturday, July 13
Marion/Vinton-Shellsburg at Benton, 7 pm
Grinnell/Clear Creek Amana at Carlisle, 7 pm

Finals
Tuesday, July 16
Semifinal winners at Carlisle, 7 pm