WAVERLY — Fresh off back-to-back Iowa state championships and a third-place finish at the National Invitational Tournament last fall, the Waverly-Shell Rock girls rugby team enters the 2026 season with high expectations.

FORT DODGE — One year after winning the state softball championship, the Clarksville Indians proved last season was no fluke.

The Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association and Iowa Girls' Coaches Association released their All-District teams and other various awards given to individual athletes across the state.

With softball and baseball seasons now at an end, a number of athletes from across Butler County found themselves earning awards; many of which came from Clarksville and North Butler.

BASEBALL:

FORT DODGE – A long road that began in May has come to an end. At the end of that road? Victory.

The Clarksville Indians softball team beat Edgewood-Colesburg 5-2 in the Class 1A state championship game on Friday, July 24. The title marks back-to-back Class 1A state championships for the Indians and the third state softball championship in program history. 

FORT DODGE - Throughout the game there were 34 hits, 23 runs scored, and more than a few jaws were dropped.

The class 1a State softball tournament kicked off in an epic, and seemingly never-ending way for Clarksville and North Butler on Monday night.

After 15 innings Clarksville emerged as the winner, 12-11 over North Butler.

For a little bit they seemed almost like they were unstoppable.

Then came the class 3A region four semifinal against Mount Vernon. The Mustangs scored a run in the fourth inning, and then added six more in the bottom of the fifth. That was all it took to end the season for Dike-New Hartford.

One run ended their season a little earlier than expected.

The 2026 Dike-New Hartford baseball team had a relatively successful year, it was just cut short in the class 2A substate 6 quarterfinals.

ALLISON – One more game.

That is what stands between the Bearcat girls and their second state invitation in team history.

An electric 24-5 season, a roster full of fire, and the stats of a championship-caliber team have brought these girls to the final test; the regional championship against the 26-5 Newman Catholic Knights.

CLARKSVILLE – Ten straight conference championships and a 23-7 record.

This is what the Clarksville Indians carry into their regional championship game, with a win earning them a state bid.

After an off-week before the postseason began, the Clarksville girls took the opportunity to show everyone why they earned a first-round bye and a top 10 1A ranking.

CLARKSVILLE – 17-5. Unstoppable. The Clarksville Indians softball team has already left their mark on the 2025-26 season, even with a week left to play before the substate tournament.

The Indians’ five losses came only once in May and four in June (as of 6/25), yet they refuse to let it slow them down.

APLINGTON-PARKERSBURG – The A-P baseball team finished a strong two-week stretch on Friday, June 26, winning six of their last nine games.

The Falcons struggled to get hot at the start of June, sitting at 4-7 through the first two weeks. They soon found their rhythm, however, and now stand at an even 10-10 record (through 6/26).

CLARKSVILLE – The Clarksville Indians baseball team continues to struggle through their season, sitting at 4-8 as of Sunday, June 21.

The Indians played three games in the past week, winning one and losing two.

On Monday, June 15, the Indians lost at home to Collins-Maxwell 12-0 in just five innings.

CLARKSVILLE – First-ranked Clarksville softball had a huge week, playing seven games from Monday, June 15 through Sunday, June 21.

Only two of these games were played at home, and the bulk of them were a part of the Fort Dodge Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

DIKE – Dike-New Hartford softball defended their home turf against a strong Grundy Center team on Thursday, June 18.

The Wolverines got on the board early with a two-run home run in the first inning from senior Faith Gray, who also pitched against the Spartans. Dike-New Hartford scored an additional run in the third.

DIKE – The Grundy Center Spartans came to Dike-New Hartford ready to brawl on Friday, June 18, but the matchup proved easier than anyone may have thought.

It took the Spartan boys no time to start making an impact. In fact, they scored at least one run in every one of the five innings before mercy-ruling the Wolverines 11-0.