DES MOINES — For 35 years, Ottumwa has played host to a pioneering softball classic.

Huston Field will be abuzz this morning and long into the night as the Ottumwa Classic kicks off today and runs into the weekend.

The first pitch will be thrown at 8:30 a.m.

Ottumwa got a little prep work in before it plays two games in its home classic with a sweep of Des Moines Roosevelt Thursday — 5-1 and 9-1.

Huston, the second-winningest prep softball coach in the entire nation with 1,534 victories, talked about the classic he started that’s been patterned after by countless squads.

“We are proud of the fact that we are always able to attract the great local teams from the area, but also that we can always attract some great teams from afar,” said Huston. “There should be a lot of great games, good softball and interesting matchups.”

Ottumwa, now ranked 12th in Class 4A, improved to 23-7 overall and 11-4 in CIML Metro play.

The Bulldogs used two sparkling outings courtesy of hurlers Missy Staloch and Courtney Wagner to tame the Roughriders.

“We had two real solid team performances tonight,” said Huston.

Staloch fanned eight in the opener and allowed five hits. Wagner limited the Roughriders to just three hits and issued zero earned runs.

OHS junior Lindsey Evans doubled three times and was 3-3 in the nightcap. Paige Schreiner was 3-4 in the opener and Courtney Klyn collected four hits.

Ottumwa plays Keokuk at 6:45 p.m., followed by West Burlington at 8:15 p.m.

Ottumwa 5, Des Moines Roosevelt 1

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