March 19, 2024

The Pressbox

Just win

Push the delete button, please.

Delete all the Class 3A playoff scenarios I laid out in my Pregame Outlook story Thursday for Newton High football. They were flawed.

With the ties possible in Newton’s district after Friday’s games and what that means for the Cardinals’ playoff hopes, those scenarios and how playoff spots are determined by other than a team’s record and head-to-head competition will make your head spin.

It did mine. I obviously did not have a firm grasp of the playoff situation as I thought I did, as pointed out to me by a Daily News reader. I shouldn’t have tried to put all those scenarios out on the table.

Sorry for the confusion.

I do know that Ballard and Bondurant-Farrar are in the 3A playoffs from District 6. Newton, Gilbert and Grinnell are battling for the final two spots.

But Newton head coach Ed Ergenbright said it best, “Beat Nevada.” The Cardinals travel to Nevada Friday to take on the Cubs. Cardinals just go take care of business and see how the rest shakes out.

One area high school football team doesn’t have to worry about all that. Collins-Maxwell/Baxter has clinched its Class 2A district title. The Raiders know they will host a first-round playoff game Wednesday.

What’s on the line Friday night for CMB — a first-ever perfect regular-season. The Raiders play at home against Centerville.

Prairie City-Monroe, which plays in the same 2A district as CMB, is also playoff bound. The Mustangs are at North Polk Friday night. PCM and North Polk are in the playoffs, have the same 3-2 district record and play for the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds.

Colfax-Mingo’s Tigerhawks and Lynnville-Sully’s Hawks have a chance for the No. 4 seed in Class A Distrcit 7. Both teams are 3-3 district play, and I do know this one, if they tie, Colfax-Mingo moves on because it beat Lynnville-Sully. The Tigerhawks host winless GMG Friday night while Lynnville-Sully is at Belle Plaine (7-1).

So, there you go. Just win.

CMB and Lynnville-Sully’s volleyball teams won on Tuesday to advance in their respective regional tournaments. CMB is at South Hamilton in Class 2A Region 5 tournament action and Lynnville-Sully goes to Iowa Valley in Class 1A Region 7 play Tuesday.

Newton High’s Cardinal volleyball team is at Oskaloosa Monday to open Class 4A Region 4 action. Also on Monday, PCM’s Mustangs go to North Polk in Class 3A Region 6 play.

Just win volleyball teams.

Thursday had all the area high school cross country runners working in state qualifying meets. There are 13 runners headed to the state cross country meet Nov. 1 in Fort Dodge.

Just win harriers.

I can’t do a column about winning without a shout out to the guys in Blue from Kansas City. The fans of the Kansas City Royals went from a low feeling after losing the first game of the 2014 World Series to that great high from the Game 2 victory at Kauffman Stadium Wednesday night.

The Royals just won. Now, it’s on to San Francisco for the next three games against the Giants.

Just win Royals.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at 641-792-3121 Eet. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com.