Directions to Burlington High School Softball Field

In the event Oskaloosa would beat Ottumwa on Saturday, here are the dirctions to the Burlington Softball Field.

Stay on Highway 34 and take Roosevelt Avenue exit and turn right. Follow that to Division Street — businesses include MidwestOne Bank, Arby’s and a Shell gas station. Turn left on to Division Street. It is a long block until turn right on Terrance Drive. Make another right into the first driveway which will get you to a parking lot and the softball field is located behind the Industrial Arts Building.

Oskaloosa and Ottumwa will be playing role reversal when the teams meet Saturday night at Huston Field in a Class 4A regional quarterfinal, beginning at 7 p.m.

Usually, the Bulldogs are the team that is ranked and has the better record.

Not this year.

The Indians are ranked 12th in the latest poll and possess a 25-8 record heading into Thursday night’s makeup game with Grinnell.

Ottumwa, on the other hand is 15-22 and is having its first losing season in school history.

But as in many cases involving rivals, records are meaningless this time of season.

Ottumwa has had Oskaloosa’s number in recent games, winning the last three games — all regional contests — including a 3-1 conquest in the second round last year.

“Nothing is new — it’s the same ole, same ole — Oskaloosa-Ottumwa in regionals,” Oskaloosa coach Jay Harms said. “It’s disappointing from the standpoint we’ve never had the opportunity to host Ottumwa. It’s a tough place to play. We’ve got a nice ball club and our kids will be ready to go.”

The Indians will be playing almost right up to the regional encounter as they have game all week except Friday which Harms prefers, saying the team will be in game shape heading into Saturday.

“The way this group is, I think we actually play better if we just keep on playing,” Harms said. “I’m kind of happy this year that we don’t have two or three games off until we play (in tournaments). The kids are, right now, pretty confident and feel good about themselves. If we finish strong this week in the conference, we’ll fell good about going against Ottumwa.”

Both teams used three pitchers this year, but only the Oskaloosa trio of juniors Emily Street and Brittany Redlich and sophomore Jennifer Whitehead have winning records.