Iowa's Girls of Summer: State softball

Fun in the sun in Fort Dodge is an annual tradition

Iowa high school athletes get a special treat of summer sports.

In other states, there are no varsity high school sports contested at this time of year. But in Iowa, we have summer baseball and softball. It’s our unique style, like how we have separate governing bodies for girls’ and boys’ sports.

It’s the Iowa Way.

Martensdale-St. Marys’ Hadley Pearson (left) wore a tiara and Campbell German (right) sported a cowgirl hat during their postgame interviews after winning a Class 1A state softball semifinal. (Photo by John Naughton.)

Let’s look at the state softball tournament in Fort Dodge, which finished this past week. It’s an event that has a different character from any other state event for high school athletes.

Sure, there are serious moments of intense competition. But there’s also a spirit of goofy fun. One team used hair products to give themselves glittering styles in pink and blue. Another spent Monday night crafting cowgirl hats, which were worn in the dugout this week. Fort Dodge players danced the “Cotton Eye Joe” song together in a choreographed routine.

Iowa’s Girls of Summer know how to have fun.

Iowa City Regina players, from left, Ashley Webb and Courtney Kessler used a combination of products to give their hair a colorful glow at the state softball tournament. (Photo by John Naughton.)

Fort Dodge has hosted the state summer softball tournament since 1970.

The games are played at a big softball and baseball complex at Rogers Sports Complex on the north side of town.

There were five state champions crowned this week: Ankeny Centennial in Class 5A, Winterset in 4A, Williamsburg in 3A, Iowa City Regina in 2A and North Linn in 1A.

Media interviews are conducted following games. Some players wear their tough game faces; others are smiling and laughing.

And this year, for the first time, I interviewed a player wearing a tiara.

Webb and Kessler, from left, went on to lead Regina to a state title. Having fun and winning is part of the allure of summer softball. (Photo by John Naughton.)

Martensdale-St. Marys had just finished beating Wayne of Corydon 9-0 in a Class 1A semifinal Wednesday.