While most of the college sports played at Iowa State take place during the fall or spring semesters, some carry on into the summer.

In other cases, Cyclone athletes compete in their sport on their own without it being part of their season. It can be tough to keep up with the local sports world without many NCAA events, but thanks to some outside organizations, there are ways to stay involved.

Here are a few of the summer sports highlights to look forward to.

Iowa State Softball

The Iowa State softball team just clinched its 30th win, making this season the most successful in school history since 1989.

“This senior class bought in immediately when I came back, and that’s a credit to them, their character and their integrity,” said coach Jamie Pinkerton. “When I came in from day one they bought in from day one and it shows.”

Iowa State will compete in the Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma beginning Friday. The Cyclones will play three games in the event with the first two being played on Friday and the last being played Saturday.

Iowa State could also find itself in postseason play after the conclusion of the Big 12 Tournament.

“We’ve got to continue to do what we’ve done all season: be gritty, be determined and always know that we are in the game,” Pinkerton said.

Capital City League

If you’re looking for a hoops fix, several Iowa State men’s basketball players will take part in the annual Capital City League, played in Des Moines and Ankeny.

In the past, fans have been able to see Cyclones such as Georges Niang, Royce White, Monte Morris, Naz Mitrou-Long and many more compete in the league.

The best part? It’s the only time fans get to see them play against each other rather than on the same team.

Capital City League provided fans with their first chance to see players like Lindell Wigginton and Marial Shayok, who both played in the Capital City League before suiting up for the Cyclones.

Additionally, rosters also have players from Drake, local community colleges and, in some cases, top high school players in the area.

The games don’t often feature breathtaking defense, but it’s a good way to consume some basketball during the summer dead period.

The season begins June 16. Rosters and full schedules will be released at a later date.

Iowa Games

Sometimes, watching from the sidelines isn’t enough.

If you’d rather get involved yourself, Iowa Games is a great opportunity to do exactly that.

While this, like Capital City League, isn’t technically an Iowa State event, a lot of the competitions take place in Ames.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for July 19 at Jack Trice Stadium. After that, athletes compete in dozens of sports over several weeks.

There is everything from bocce to foot golf to basketball, meaning just about everyone can find a sport to play. If you’re not ready to compete, you can always step up as a volunteer to help make the games go as smoothly as possible.