Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Gianna Lara of West Des Moines Valley avoids the tag of Southeast Polk's Sydney Potter on Monday at Rogers Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Standing across from defending Class 5A state champion Fort Dodge on Wednesday will be long-time rival Tom Bakey and West Des Moines Valley.

The sixth-ranked Tigers topped No. 7 Southeast Polk here at Rogers Park on Diamond 2 Monday, 7-5. Valley (27-13 overall) and the Dodgers (36-6) will meet on Diamond 1 at 11 a.m. in the semifinals.

“We have a tremendous amount of respect for Andi (Adams) and the Fort Dodge softball program,” VHS head coach Tom Bakey said. “Nobody was happier for Andi, her family and Fort Dodge softball than Tom Bakey when they won it all last year.

“We were coaching against each other when Andi had Jalen (Adams). We know they are the favorites, but we’l be ready to play.”

Gianna Lara and Anna Eastin each hit solo home runs, while Reese Cooley added a two-run shot as part of a big rally late. Lara connected on her 15th of the season in the first, Eastin recorded her second in the fifth and Cooley went deep for the fifth time in the sixth.

“It feels amazing,” Lara said. “We came out strong, but had some struggles there late. We’ve just been playing with a lot of confidence since regionals started.”

Ireland Broderick also delivered a two-RBI double in the sixth.

“We’re all so happy to be advancing,” said Cooley, who was wearing the ‘home run hat’ after the game. “We are all just so excited.”

Emma LaFave, who will play at Buena Vista University in the fall, earned her 11th win of the season inside the circle.

Lara reached base all four times she was up, as the Minnesota State-Mankato recruit also had a single, was hit by a pitch and intentionally walked in the sixth. Claire Long was 2-for-3 and drove in a run.

Southeast Polk (25-13) scored a run in the fifth to tie it at 1-1, but were unable to rally a second time against Valley. During the regular season, the two split their four meetings.

Jesslyn Stairs drove in Ava Brady for the lone run. Brady also had a stolen base after reaching on a single. Sydney Potter had two hits and reached on an error.

In the seventh, Southeast Polk put a rally together. They scored runs on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch and another on a walk before Chloe Kottolowski made it 7-5 with a two-RBI single.

“It’s all about getting 21 outs,” said Bakey, who has led Valley to six titles and 939 wins in his career. “We got to 18 and got stuck there. We’ve had some struggles this year, but we found a way to finish it off.”

The Rams will face Waukee (25-15) in the consolations on Tuesday at 11 a.m. on Dodger Field.

WDM VALLEY 7, SOUTHEAST POLK 5

SE Polk 000 010 4 — 5 8 0

Valley 100 024 x — 7 10 1

WP–Emma LaFave (11-5, 6+ IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 K, 2 BB). LP–Jayda Long (12-8, 5+ IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 K, 3 BB).

HR–WDMV: Gianna Lara, Anna Eastin, Reese Cooley. RBI–SEP: Jesslyn Stairs (2), Chloe Kottlowski (2); WDMV: Gianna Lara, Anna Eastin, Claire Long, Ireland Broderick (2), Reese Cooley (2). SB–SEP: Ava Brady; WDMV: Ireland Broderick.