- Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Martyne Lowrey of Fort Dodge hits a RBI triple against Sioux City North on Monday in a 5A regional semifinal. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net
- Messenger photo by Chris Johnson: The wall in the dugout at Rogers Park on Monday was filled with photos of Dodger players when they were younger, pieced together by Melissa Davis.
Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Martyne Lowrey of Fort Dodge hits a RBI triple against Sioux City North on Monday in a 5A regional semifinal. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net
Posted on the wall in Fort Dodge’s dugout on Monday were pictures of the Dodgers growing up as little girls on the ballfield.
Head coach Andi Adams’ message to her team was to play for that little girl, which had grown up dreaming of playing for state championships.
“They walked into the dugout and saw those pictures and got choked up,” Adams said. “It was a photo album of what they’ve put into this game from a young age. I had Melissa Davis (Mia Davis’ mom) get those pictures together to show them what they’ve done and how far they’ve come.
“I told them to play for that little girl in the picture, because time flies by.”
The second-ranked Dodgers (34-4 overall) began the chase for state glory with a 12-0, four-inning victory over Sioux City North (17-23) in a Class 5A regional semifinal.
Messenger photo by Chris Johnson: The wall in the dugout at Rogers Park on Monday was filled with photos of Dodger players when they were younger, pieced together by Melissa Davis.
Fort Dodge will face Sioux City East (20-19) in a regional final on Tuesday. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. on Diamond 1 at Rogers Park.
The Dodgers are looking for their fourth straight state softball appearance and sixth in the last seven seasons.
FDSH came out with a swagger in what was supposed to be a night off before the regional final. The postponement of Saturday’s contest forced the Dodgers into a back-to-back regional blitz.
“Their energy was unbridled,” Adams said. “They came out with so much enthusiasm. You couldn’t control it…they were just ready to play.
“They were so frustrated they couldn’t play (on Saturday). They were all ready to go cup the field to get it ready.”
The Dodgers, who have won 14 straight games and 28 of 29 overall, were on cruise control as junior Jalen Adams (21-1) was again dealing. The University of Iowa recruit fired a perfect game with seven strikeouts.
Adams is now 84-9 in her career, with 628 strikeouts in four seasons in the circle.
“This group has one goal in mind,” Adams said. “You can see it in their eyes. They are patient at the plate and they know what needs to be done.”
Every Dodger contributed from the top to the bottom of the lineup with either a run, hit or RBI. Fort Dodge had nine hits as a squad and drove in seven runs.
“It’s tough to scout us, because it’s like death by a thousand paper cuts,” Adams said. “Everyone on this team contributes.”
The Dodgers, who have recorded 10 consecutive shutouts and have won 11 of their last 12 by mercy rule, burst out of the gate with four runs in the first inning, led by a two-run triple by junior Martyne Lowrey.
Adams’ crew kept coming up with the big hits. Jalen Adams hit her fourth home run of the season, a solo shot in the second inning and Haley Wills had an RBI-double in the fourth.
Adams ended the contest in the fourth inning, as three straight Dodgers reached base with hits. Adams plated Sophia Klinger with a sacrifice fly for the victory.
Lowrey and Klinger finished with two hits each. Lowrey drove in two runs and Klinger scored twice.
Tristin Doster extended her hit streak to 13 straight games and scored a run. Tory Bennett had a double and drove in a run.
Maia Davis contributed an RBI, while Chloe Wertz recorded a hit and scored a run.
Reese Pederson scored twice, while Maggie Elsbecker and Mariah Myers each scored runs.
FORT DODGE 12, SIOUX CITY NORTH 0
SC North 000 0 — 0 0 6
Fort Dodge 433 2 — 12 9 0
WP–Jalen Adams (21-1), 4IP, 0H, 0ER, 0BB, 7SO; LP–Madi Green, 2IP, 7H, 4ER, 2BB, 0SO; LOB–SCN 0, Fort Dodge 5; 2B–FD: Haley Wills, Tory Bennett, Martyne Lowrey; 3B–FD: Martyne Lowrey; HR–FD: Jalen Adams; SAC–FD: Maia Davis; SB–FD: Sophia Klinger, Reese Pederson, Tory Bennett, Martyne Lowrey, Maia Davis, Maggie Elsbecker.
