(Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Longtime Iowa sports broadcaster Bob Brooks, whose career covering athletics of every kind spanned seven decades, has died. He was 89.

Brooks’ son, Rob Brooks, says his father died Saturday.

The Des Moines Register reports that Brooks was born in Cedar Rapids and graduated from the city’s Franklin High School in 1944. That was the same year he began his first broadcasting job at a local radio station, which he kept through his four years at the University of Iowa.

Affectionately known as “Brooksie,” he worked for a variety of Iowa radio and television stations throughout his career. For the last 15 years, he covered sports for Cedar Rapids radio station KMRY, until his recent illness.

Besides his son, Brooks is survived by his wife, Susie.

The softball season is starting to wind down in Iowa, and the regional brackets for all five classes have been released.

In Class 1A, Region 4 has Montezuma hosting BGM in an area matchup with the winner drawing #3 Alburnett in the quarterfinals on the road. That matchup is on Tuesday, July 5^th at 7 PM. In the same half of the Region 4 bracket, English Valleys will be on the road to face Don Bosco in Gilbertville on July 5^th at 7 PM.

In Class 1A Region 5, Moravia gets a couple of home games in their section of the bracket. They’ll first face Twin Cedars at home on July 5^th at 7 PM. The winner of that game will face either Cardinal or Moulton-Udell, who play in Eldon on the 5^th at 7 PM. Second round games are the next night, July 6^th.

In the bottom of that Region 5 bracket, Sigourney also gets a chance to host two games. The Savages will play Keota in a Keokuk County battle on July 5^th at 7 PM with the winner playing either Lone Tree or Tri-County. That matchup is in Lone Tree on the 5^th at 7 PM.

There are two area teams in the bottom half of the Class 1A Region 6 bracket. Lynnville-Sully is hosting Southeast Warren on July 5^th at 7 PM with the winner to play either Colfax-Mingo or Melcher-Dallas. Melcher-Dallas has to go on the road for that one, and that is in Colfax on July 5^th at 7 PM.

In Class 2A, Region 3 has Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont with a couple of home games. The Rockets will first face North Mahaska in Eddyville on July 6^th at 7 PM. Pleasantville is in that same part of the bracket, as they face Des Moines Christian at home at 7 PM on the 6^th. The winners of those two games will play in Eddyville on July 8^th at 7 PM in the regional semifinals. Van Meter is the top seed in the bracket despite EBF ranked one spot higher in the most recent rankings.

In Class 2A Region 5, Pella Christian got a tough draw. The 10^th ranked Eagles will face Madrid at home on July 6^th at 7 PM, then should they win, they would host any of three non-area teams. If they win that game, they would be in the regional final, but that would be against #1 ranked Iowa City Regina on July 11^th.

Pekin is the lone school in our area in Class 2A Region 6. The Panthers host Van Buren on July 5^th at 7 PM for the right to play Highland on the road on July 6^th. Highland recently fell out of the rankings.

Class 3A is very interesting, and Region 4 is the headline bracket in our area. Four area teams are in the same half of the eight team bracket. Centerville will host Davis County and Albia will host Mid-Prairie. Both of those games are at 7 PM on July 6^th. The winner of those two games will play in Centerville on July 8^th. 2^nd ranked Davenport Assumption is the top team in the bracket.

PCM is in Region 7 in Class 3A, and they have to face #12 CMB in the first round in Collins on July 6^th at 7 PM. #13 Clarke is actually the top seed in what is a wide open bracket.

In Class 4A, Newton has had a great season, and the 13^th ranked Cardinals get a first round bye in Region 2. They’ll face either Boone or Webster City at home on July 9^th at 7 PM. #4 Waverly-Shell Rock is the other top team in the region.

In Region 4 in Class 4A, Fairfield gets the bye, as the Trojans will face either Fort Madison or Davenport North at home on July 9^th at 7 PM. Southeast Conference foe Keokuk is the other top team in the bracket, which could set up a classic matchup. Keokuk is currently ranked 7^th with Fairfield 8^th. Fairfield has lost both games against Keokuk this year so far. They do have two more meetings later this year.

In Class 4A Region 5, Oskaloosa was rewarded for a great season by getting the top seed. They will host either Clear Creek-Amana or Marion in a favorable matchup on July 9^th at 7 PM. Should the fifth ranked Indians win, they would host the regional final on July 12^th at 7 PM. Their toughest competition will come in the form of 11^th ranked Mount Pleasant, who is currently 18-6.

The Region 6 bracket in Class 4A has a pair of teams from the area. Grinnell received a home game and they will host Ballard on July 7^th at 7 PM. If the Tigers win, they’ll face #2 ranked Carlisle on the road on July 9^th. July 9^th will also be the first game for Pella, who got a first round bye. The 14^th ranked Lady Dutch will host either Vinton-Shellsburg or Cedar Rapids Xavier at 7 PM. Barring an upset, Pella would then have to go on the road to face Carlisle for a trip to state.

The last area team in Class 4A is Knoxville, and they are on the road from the get-go against Des Moines Hoover on July 7^th. Should they pull that upset, the Panthers would have to face three-time defending state champion Dallas Center-Grimes, who is the top seed in the region.

Finally, Class 5A’s lone area team is Ottumwa and they are in Region 2. The #15 Bulldogs will host Southeast Polk in the regional semifinals on July 9^th at 7 PM. The unfortunate part of the draw for Ottumwa is that #1 Johnston looms in that region, and would likely host Ottumwa for a trip to state on July 12^th.

We will have full coverage of all area teams and their postseason brackets on radiokmzn.com and during our sports segments on 104.9 FM KBOE and 99.5 FM/740 AM KMZN.