State Tournament Outlook
Sioux City East closed the regular season with a 38‑2 record, the best mark in the state, and earned a spot in the Iowa High School Athletic Association State Baseball Tournament. The team’s depth and consistency have made it a favorite to contend for the championship.
Pleasantville enters the tournament with a 30‑1 record and the defense of its Class 2A title, but it will face a tough test against a Johnston squad that has won 15 of its last 17 games and captured another CIML championship.
Indianola, riding a six‑game winning streak and averaging more than eight runs per game, joins a crowded field that includes Dubuque Wahlert Catholic, Waukee Northwest and Cedar Rapids Prairie, each of which posted notable victories in recent weeks.
Other standout teams include Roland‑Story, sitting at 35‑3, and Cedar Rapids Kennedy, which finished 26‑7. The rankings also feature undefeated runs from West Lyon (21‑1) and a strong showing by Martensdale‑St. Marys at 29‑3, underscoring the competitive balance across all classes.
The tournament bracket will see a mix of seasoned champions and surprise contenders. Saint Ansgar, the reigning Class 1A champion, returns to defend its title, while teams such as Fort Dodge (32‑9) and Lewis Central (31‑5) look to make deep runs despite being unranked or facing tough schedules.
Key Matchups to Watch
One of the most anticipated games features Coon Rapids‑Bayard, the only team to have beaten Pleasantville this season, against the defending champions in a potential early‑round upset. Meanwhile, Waukee’s 19 wins over .500 opponents highlight a schedule that could see a clash with top‑seeded opponents in the later stages.
Fans can also expect a showdown between Cedar Rapids Prairie, which averages nearly nine runs per game, and MOC‑Floyd Valley, sitting at 22‑8, as both teams bring high‑scoring offenses to the tournament field.
With the regular season now complete, the focus shifts to how these teams will translate their regular‑season momentum into the state tournament. Coaches and players alike are aware that a single game can change the narrative, and the upcoming matches will likely determine the next chapter in Iowa high school baseball history.