Tenative state softball schedule released by IGHSAU

BOONE — The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) released a tentative schedule of next year’s state softball tournament, last Tuesday.

The state softball tournament is expected to take place July 16-20, 2012.

The 2012 season will be the first for the new five-class format that the IGHSAU is implementing.

Under the tentative schedule, 1A, 2A and part of 3A would start games Monday,  July 16 with the other half of 3A, as well as 4A and 5A playing the next day.

All the championship games would still be played on Friday. But under the tentative schedule, the games would be played much earlier. For example, the 1A championship would take place at 10 a.m., with the consolation game being played at 9:30 a.m.

The IGHSAU Board of Directors voted to add five classes to four sports, including softball, in May.

The change will officially take effect for the next softball season.
Akron-Westfield (1A), Iowa City Regina (2A), Clear Creek-Amana (3A) and Des Moines East (4A), won the state championships this year.

Under the new class format, the 40 largest schools are added to 5A.

The next 48 would be in 4A and the next 64 in 3A.

Class 2A would be the next 96 and the remainder will be 1A.