The Fab Four

The fireworks come early in July, but local baseball and softball teams are hoping to deliver an encore presentation later this month.

For the first time in city history - and the third consecutive week - all four squads are concurrently ranked. It's also a distinct possibility that three of them will be celebrating conference championships in the not-so-distant future.

Through Thursday's action, the combined record of the Fort Dodge and St. Edmond foursome on the diamond stands at 90-29 overall and 51-12 in conference play - numbers that would stack up favorably against any community state-wide.

The Gael baseball squad is 25-2 and winners of a program-best 23 straight - good for a No. 4 rating in Class 2A. They're unbeaten on the North Central Conference circuit, making them the favorite for a fourth NCC championship since 2004. Joe Shanks' ballclub, which has won 54 of their last 60 contests and 31 of 32 in the league dating back to the beginning of last season, has also been getting better with age, plating 150 runs during a recent 11-game offensive tear.

Matt Elsbecker's Dodgers are in the hunt for the first CIML baseball title in school history. Seventh-ranked (Class 4A) Fort Dodge is 22-10 overall and two games ahead of No. 9 Mason City (20-9, 11-5) atop the CIML Iowa Conference standings at 13-3. They're three wins away from reaching 25 victories for the fifth consecutive year, where they're 52 cumulative games over the .500 mark after being 50 under it during Elsbecker's first three campaigns.

In softball, St. Edmond stands at 20-6 and 15-2. The Gaels, who are 132-79 under Jana Beisell, currently rank 10th in 2A after clinching at least a share of their second league crown in three summers on Thursday. They're 42-10 in conference play during that span.

Unlike the other three, Andi Adams' Dodger softball squad isn't in their conference title picture - but only because top-ranked West Des Moines Valley and No. 4 Waukee are blocking their view. Fort Dodge continues to maintain a level of remarkable consistency, despite having to revamp nearly its entire infield. The Dodgers are 23-11 and 15th in 4A, with a 14-2 home mark and victories over the No. 4 Warriors, ninth-rated Johnston and No. 11 Sioux City East on their resume.

Local fans won't have to travel far to see this quartet in the postseason, either. Both softball teams host regionals from start to finish within the friendly confines of Rogers Sports Complex. The Gael baseball squad earned home assignments throughout district play, and although the 4A substate pairings are still being decided, Fort Dodge is in line for a No. 1 seed and at least one probable Rogers Park assignment in its quest to return to Principal Park for the third time since 2005.

There are no guarantees once tournament time rolls around, but the potential is in place for a perfect storm of local celebration before all is said and done. It's already been a successful summer around the horn, and the best may be yet to come.

Eric Pratt is Sports Editor at The Messenger. He may be reached afternoons and evenings at 1-800-622-6613, or by e-mail at sports@messengernews.net

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HawkDC
07-03-09 10:02 AM »Report Abuse	This is something to be very proud of, Fort Dodge!

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