The 2022 Girls State Softball Tournament did not end the way the Fort Dodge Dodgers and their fans had hoped that it would, but it still showcased our community and its outstanding sports complex.

The fact that Fort Dodge has hosted the tournament for more than 50 years is a tribute to the work and the partnerships created by essentially a generation’s worth of local leaders. These are leaders that have seen the value in both having a world class facility in Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex, and maintaining a close relationship with the Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union.

Credit for the success of the 2022 tournament must start with the city’s Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department. Its workers, many of them seasonal or part-time employees, toiled in blistering heat over the past week to keep the softball diamonds in top condition. Other employees fed hungry softball fans at the concession stand or collected admission fees. Lori Branderhorst, the director of parks, recreation and forestry, and Chad Graaf, the department’s grounds superintendent, played key roles before the tournament and while it was underway.

Mayor Matt Bemrich and the City Council continued the work of previous mayors and councils by making the tournament and the sports complex a high priority. City Manager David Fierke led the local government’s staff in getting all the necessary work done.

Pulling off a successful softball tournament requires a partnership that extends beyond the ranks of city government.

The business community which catered to the players, coaches and fans has collectively been a supporter of the tournament since it came to Fort Dodge.

One of the key partners is Iowa Central Community College, which provided housing and meals for about 30 softball teams. That’s about 350 people. The college has been providing housing and meals for softball players since the 1980s.

The dedicated sports staff of The Messenger played a key role in keeping everyone up-to-date on the tournament action. Sports Editor Eric Pratt, Assistant Sports Editor Chris Johnson and Sports Writer Dana Becker did an outstanding job throughout the week.

We thank everyone who made the 2022 tournament a success.