State softball · Preview · Class C
Class C softball: Saturday's path to Bowlin
{nm} state softball Saturday preview: Games 11-14 matchups, times, fields and the path to Monday's final.
HASTINGS, Neb. — Four Class C teams are left at the Bill Smith Softball Complex, and Saturday decides which two play for the state title. Kearney Catholic and Bishop Neumann are unbeaten and need one win. Yutan/Mead and defending champion Hastings St. Cecilia have one loss and must win twice.
Game 11: No. 1 Kearney Catholic vs. No. 8 Yutan/Mead, 10:00 a.m., Field #1
Kearney Catholic entered the tournament 22-3. It beat Yutan/Mead 10-0 in five innings on Wednesday and St. Cecilia 12-4 in six innings on Friday. P. Adkisson drove in five against St. Cecilia, K. Ruyle stole three bases, and P. Tidwell pitched a complete game.
Yutan/Mead entered 22-7. After the opening loss to Kearney Catholic, it beat DC West 2-1 and Ashland-Greenwood 16-10 on Friday. The Patriots had 18 hits against Ashland-Greenwood, with homers from A. Anderson and A. Jones and three hits each from K. Woster, L. Thompson and H. Schake. J. Siske pitched both Friday games, 14 innings and 220 pitches. Saturday is a rematch of Wednesday's 10-0 game.
If Yutan/Mead wins, the teams play again in Game 12 right after Game 11 on Field #1.
Game 13: No. 3 Bishop Neumann vs. No. 4 Hastings St. Cecilia, 10:00 a.m., Field #4
Bishop Neumann entered 20-4. It beat Fort Calhoun 12-4 in five innings and Ashland-Greenwood 5-2, scoring three in the seventh on Friday. I. Stuhr struck out 10 in that game and allowed no earned runs on 113 pitches.
St. Cecilia entered 18-7. It beat DC West 2-1, lost 12-4 to Kearney Catholic, then shut out Fort Calhoun 8-0 in six innings. E. Kissinger pitched in both Friday games and threw the shutout. T. Hawkinson had five hits on the day, and M. Bauer homered against Fort Calhoun.
If St. Cecilia wins, the teams play again in Game 14 right after Game 13 on Field #4.
Monday: The two survivors meet for the Class C championship in Game 15 on Monday, Oct. 19, at noon at Bowlin Stadium in Lincoln. St. Cecilia won the 2025 title there, beating Central City 5-4, according to NSAA's 2025 finals recap. NSAA posts any weather changes on nsaahome.org and its social media.
Sources: NSAA Class C bracket sheet, retrieved Oct. 16, 2026, 9:48 p.m. CT; NSAA official box scores, Oct. 16, 2026; NSAA Softball Championships HQ; NSAA softball finals history, retrieved Oct. 12, 2026; NSAA 2025 state softball finals recap, retrieved Oct. 12, 2026.
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