Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Bre Tjebben of Fort Dodge hits an RBI double against Ames last week at Rogers Park.

The Fort Dodge softball team begins their quest for another state tournament appearance here Friday night at Rogers Park, hosting Sioux City East in a Class 5A, Region 2 semifinal.

First pitch is set for 7 p.m.

The Dodgers (17-20 overall) have lost four in a row and six of seven, but they are just a few weeks removed from a 6-3 stretch that included wins over Newell-Fonda, Harlan and Winterset.

Senior Maggie Harvey leads the FDSH offense, batting .404 with 35 RBI, five home runs, 12 doubles, 35 runs and 46 hits. She has struck out just nine times in 114 at-bats, drawing eight walks.

Bre Tjebben, a junior, has three homers, 32 RBI and is hitting .389, while freshman Loghen Schnetzer checks in at .366 with 27 runs driven in, seven doubles and four homers.

Seniors Mack Provin (.404 batting average, 12 RBI and 11 doubles) and Meagan Hartman (.337, 13 RBI and 29 hits) provide experienced bats in the middle of the order.

Tjebben will likely take to the circle, as she is 7-7 this year with 40 strikeouts in 102-plus innings.

As a team, Fort Dodge has stolen 121 bases and hit 15 homers. They also have 50 doubles and eight triples on the season.

Sioux City East (22-15) visited Rogers Park earlier this summer to play in the Fort Dodge Invitational, going 2-2. They are led by junior Alley Self, who is batting over .400.

Self, Madi Van Dyke, Markee Gruis and Kaley Macklem all have 20-plus RBI on the year. Sophomore Chasity Johnson has recorded over 150 strikeouts and sports an earned run average under 3.50. Opponents are batting .334 against her this season.

Fort Dodge has lost 16 times to ranked squads, and the combined record of teams the Dodgers have lost to is 531-205.

The regional championship will be at the highest-remaining seed on Tuesday. Second-ranked West Des Moines Valley hosts either Sioux City North and Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln in the other semifinal.

REGIONAL SOFTBALL PAIRINGS

(Area teams only)

Friday’s Games

Class 5A

Region 2

Sioux City East at Fort Dodge

Class 3A

Region 1

East Sac County at Sioux Center

Region 3

Roland-Story at Humboldt; Southeast Valley at Cherokee

Class 1A

Region 3

St. Edmond vs. Exira-EHK at Fonda

Region 4

Bishop Garrigan at North Butler