By: Dana Becker

Messenger Sports Staff

The postseason has arrived for the Iowa Central softball team.

Starting Friday in Cedar Rapids, the Tritons will begin their chase for the Region 11-A Tournament championship.

Iowa Central (29-24-1 overall) takes on Ellsworth at 2 p.m. with the winner meeting host Kirkwood later that day at 4 p.m. The tournament is double-elimination and runs through the weekend.

Saturday at noon will see the loser of the opening game take on the loser of game two, with that team being eliminated. The winner will need to knock off the winner of game three twice in a row at 2 p.m. and on Sunday at noon.

The Tritons won 12 of their final 15 games down the stretch, a run that started after being swept vs. Kirkwood at Rogers Park. They were 11-7-1 in neutral site games this season.

Sophomore Amber McKinney led the team in home runs (15), RBI (71), batting average (.446) and slugging (.817). Classmate Sydney Ballard was right behind with 12 homers, 57 RBI and a .451 average.

Riley Gilroy split time in the field and pitching, hitting .413 with nine homers, 38 RBI, 21 doubles and 15 steals while also going 8-6 with 126 strikeouts and six saves. Taylor Lee led the team with 11 runs and had 79 strikeouts.

Former Humboldt standout Jori Hajek recorded 51 hits with 16 doubles, seven homers, 35 RBI and 18 steals, while Olivia Harmon had a team-high 25 steals with 58 hits.

 For the regional winners, a district game will be held, with the Region 11-A winner hosting the Region 13 winner while the Region 11-B winner travels to face the Region 9 champion.

The NJCAA National Tournament is set for May 24-28 in Oxford, Ala.