2020 Spring Preview | Division I Softball
Last year, Indian Hills won their fifth consecutive Region XI Championship and qualified for their third National Tournament appearance in the last five years. The Warriors, voted the 2020 favorite to win the Region, return prime performers from a year ago. Both the Division I ICCAC Player and Pitcher of the Year are back on the roster.
Shortstop Brooke Snider returns after earning Second Team All-American honors as a freshman. Alexis Groet, Indian Hills' ace, returns after a Second Team All-American season as well, after leading the country in strikeouts with 301.
Iowa Western will be on the Warriors tail. The Reivers are hoping to win the Region for the first time since 2013, and the National Tournament dating back to 2011. Iowa Western returns pitcher Julie Katz to handled a heavy load on the mound.
The Blackhawks of Southeastern were last year's Region XI runners-up. They lost a bulk of their production and will need to fill the shoes of Ashley Rosado, Chayse Lowney and Heather Geiger -- all First Team All-Region players a year ago. 2014 was the last time the Blackhawks won the Region. Southeastern will host the 2020 Region XI Tournament in May.
Rounding out the group is Marshalltown. The Tigers will be led by new head coach Russ Jones, who is their third skipper in the last three seasons.