Rex Massey made sure his Western Dubuque softball team would be battle-tested if they reached the state tournament.

That paid off for the Bobcats, who are headed to the Class 4A state finals following an 8-1 victory over Adel-ADM here Wednesday night at Rogers Park.

Awaiting Western Dubuque (34-7 overall) will be Boone, who upset Winterset. That game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Friday.

This is the first title game appearance for the Bobcats, who are looking to add a softball crown to their basketball championship banner.

“We’re just having fun and enjoying the ride,” Massey said. “This is all about our five seniors and giving them everything we can. We’re staying up late scouting, preparing so we can put them in the best position possible.”

ADM got on the board first after a solo home run by Addison Banse, but the Bobcats quickly answered, scoring three in the bottom of the third. Sara Horsfield singled in a run and Sydney Kennedy followed with a two-RBI double.

Western Dubuque continued to apply pressure in the fourth, forcing ADM to switch pitchers in the process. They added two more insurance runs in the sixth.

“We’re going to have a lot of fun Friday night,” Massey said. “That’s just what this is all about.”

Horsfield drove in three runs and Kennedy two. Kennedy also earned the win, striking out 10 with just one walk, four hits and one earned run allowed.

The Bobcats played the likes of defending 5A state champion Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Iowa City High and Cedar Rapids Jefferson during the year. Both Kennedy and Iowa City High qualified for state.

ADM (26-11) will play Winterset on Friday at 3:30 p.m. for third.

WESTERN DUBUQUE 8,

ADEL-ADM 3

ADM 001 000 0 — 1 4 5

W Dubuque 003 302 x — 8 5 0

Aliya Yanga (L, 31/3 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 5 K, 2 BB), Tess Boom (22/3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 K, 2 BB) and Addison Banse; Sydney Kennedy (W, 7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 10 K, 1 BB) and Maddie Harris. 2B-ADM: Olivia Tollari; WD: Sara Horfield, Sydney Kennedy. HR-ADM: Addison Banse. RBI-ADM: Addison Banse; WD: Sara Horsfield (3), Sydney Kennedy (2), Brynn Walters.