Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Tierani Teslow of Wahlert Catholic connects for a single against Benton during the 3A quarterfinals on Tuesday at Rogers Park in Fort Dodge.

Conventional wisdom says Dubuque Wahlert should probably be at least a year away.

The Golden Eagles didn’t waste any time declaring there is no time like the present.

Third-seeded Wahlert overwhelmed Benton Community in a Class 3A state softball quarterfinal on Tuesday afternoon, posting a 10-0, five-inning mercy rule victory on Iowa Central Field.

With a lineup dominated by underclassmen, the Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division champion Golden Eagles (32-8 overall) advanced to the semifinals for the first time in program history. Wahlert will now take on another MVC school, traditional power Davenport Assumption, in the semifinals at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

“I think this just shows how much we’ve worked to get here,” said freshman pitcher Julia Roth, who fired a three-hit shutout and added a solo home run at the plate. “We’ve had our ups and downs this year, but we kept pushing through. And we’ve been playing really well recently, so we’re confident and riding that momentum.”

Roth, the MVC co-player of the year, now has 13 long balls and is batting over .500 this season.

Two years ago, Wahlert had a record of just 2-30. Patience seemed to be a virtue, even when the program took a huge leap forward and made the trip to Fort Dodge last summer.

The Golden Eagles, who start seven freshmen, plated five runs in the first two innings against the Bobcats (28-15) right out of the gate and never looked back.

“That was big for us. It set the tone,” said sophomore Anna Roling, who also went deep. “(The early runs) kept us excited and got us moving instead of (letting the nervous energy settle in), and I think it put the pressure (on Benton) right away.

“It’s exciting for our future, of course, but more importantly (in the here and now), for the rest of this week.”

Leadoff hitter Ruth Tauber — another freshman — went 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI for Wahlert. Tauber, like Roth, has double-digit homers and is batting right at .500.

The Golden Eagles, who have won 11 of their last 12 games, lost to Assumption 6-2 in their only regular-season meeting.

The No. 6 seed Bobcats will take on seventh-seeded Saydel (23-7) at 11 a.m. on Wednesday in the consolation round, which is on Dodger Diamond at Rogers Park.

WAHLERT 10, BENTON 0 (5)

Benton 000 00 – 0 3 3

Wahlert 320 32 – 10 8 1

WP–Julia Roth (14-3; 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K); LP–Jessa DeMoss (4.2 IP, 8 H, 10 R, 8 ER, 3 BB, 2 K). HR–W: Anna Roling, Ruth Tauber, Julia Roth. S–B: Jaida Lyons, Hope Moore.