Familiar foes stand in the way of a return trip to state tourney for Jayettes

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This was the scene after the final out of Perry's season last summer, with the Jayettes finishing sixth at the state tournament. The quest to return to Fort Dodge will begin Saturday when Perry hosts Waverly-Shell Rock at 7 p.m.

The IGHSAU released the Class 4A and 5A regional brackets yesterday, with Perry to host one — and perhaps two — games in Region 3.

No. 7 Perry (21-7) will host the winner of a July 6 game between Webster City (3-14) and host Waverly-Shell Rock (14-14). The Regional Semifinal at the PAC will be played July 8.

The bottom of the bracket has two familiar faces and another Perry will have played by then. They Jayettes host Pella (5-17) July 3, with the Little Dutch to battle host Norwalk (14-12) July 6. The victor will travel, July 8, to face host and state runner-up Carlisle (15-10), currently ranked ninth.

Norwalk edged Perry, 4-3, early in the season, with Carlisle using five Perry errors to claim an 11-5 win at the PAC June 5.

The obstacles standing in the way of Perry earning a second consecutive state softball qualifier banner were revealed yesterday, and, just like last July, the Jayettes could win their way to hosting their Regional Final.

“When they first saw who we might have to play I think the girls were a little bit down, but then they bounced back,” Perry head coach Tina Kenney said. “Jo (Diw) said ‘we didn’t play our best in either game, so they didn’t see the real us’ and that is true. I like our draw, especially if we can get that Regional Final at home like we did last year.”

The July 11 Regional Final will be played at the highest remaining seed, and Perry, with a first win on the 8th, would almost certainly host the game, regardless of the opponent.

Perry will have a chance to make a regular season case against Carlisle Monday on the Wildcat’s own diamond. Kenney knows neither team is going to do anything that will surprise the other.

“Carlisle, Norwalk and us have played each other so many times over the past years their are no secrets — it is who can go out there and play their best game that night,” she said. “Last year we played very well in the postseason and showed we deserved to go (to state) and I am confident we can do the same thing again.”

“Playing at home is a huge advantage, and I hope we have the kind of tremendous crowds we had last year,” Kenney concluded. “I told the girls the opportunity is in front of them, all they have to do is prove they deserve it.”

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