Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Sophia Klinger of Fort Dodge slides against Southeast Polk on Monday at Rogers Park.

The catch could have easily been lost in the shuffle of Fort Dodge’s CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader sweep against Southeast Polk on Monday at Rogers Park.

There were plenty of hits and highlights to mention, and the third-ranked (Class 5A) Dodgers didn’t have to eke out either of their victories over the No. 15 Rams.

Still, FDSH head coach Andi Adams made it a point to bring up Sophia Klinger first.

“Who knows what we’d be talking about right now if Sophia hadn’t made that play,” Adams said, referring to the sophomore’s sprawling grab in right-centerfield to rob Southeast Polk clean-up hitter Sydney Potter of extra bases at the end of the fifth inning. “It was anyone’s game at that point (in the opener).

“Sophia doesn’t get enough credit or recognition for her defense. She makes plays in the outfield that may not show up in a box score, but her talents as an outfielder are critical to our success as a team. That catch was phenomenal, and it completely shifted the momentum back to us.”

Instead of Southeast Polk tying things up and having a runner in scoring position, Klinger ended the frame with her diving stab and Fort Dodge’s lead remained intact at 2-1. The Dodgers immediately pushed two insurance runs across in the fifth and four more in the sixth to make what had been a tight contest look lopsided by the last pitch.

Freshman pitcher Jalen Adams (18-2) didn’t allow a single earned run and scattered eight hits for FDSH (26-6 overall). She struck out six.

Adams also reached base in all four plate appearances despite not having a single official at-bat; she walked once, was hit by a pitch, and was intentionally walked twice.

Junior Loghen Schnetzer launched a deep two-run home run to left-center — her ninth of the season — and sophomore Tristin Doster drove in three runs. Senior Daphne Alstott was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and freshman Tory Bennett also scored twice.

The Dodgers fell behind Southeast Polk (19-14) in the nightcap, 3-0. A two-out rally in the fourth turned the tide, however, as sophomore Chloe Wertz drilled a clutch two-run single to center and freshman Martyne Lowrey followed with an RBI single of her own.

Adams — who also got on base all three times in game two — doubled and Doster singled to start the fifth. Senior Aubrey Davis then shot a perfect bunt past the drawn-in infield to plate another run, and Schnetzer added another RBI with a groundout.

“It was great to get that kind of production from Chloe and Martyne at the bottom of the lineup,” Adams said. “This was a fun night, because we had basically everyone contribute at different points (in the twinbill). I love these kids, because they just work hard, do their jobs and don’t ask any questions. That’s rare in this day and age.”

Freshman Haley Wills (7-4) worked the first 4ª innings, surrendering three earned runs. Adams relieved her to close out the fifth and picked up the save by retiring the Rams in order the rest of the way.

“I’m so happy for Haley, because she wants the ball,” Adams said. “She deserved that win. She only made one real mistake (a two-out, two-run homer in the first). We really need her down the stretch.”

Adams, who has reached base via hit in 21 of her last 23 games, is now batting .526 — the second-best average in 5A. She has been on base at least once in every contest this season.

The Dodgers return to action on Wednesday at No. 2 West Des Moines Valley.

FORT DODGE 8, SE POLK 1

SE Polk 000 010 0 — 1 8 1

Fort Dodge 000 224 x — 8 8 1

WP–Jalen Adams (7 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K). LP–Lexi Hilzer (6 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 1 K). 2B–SEP: Addison Brunner. HR–FD: Loghen Schnetzer. SB–FD: Haley Wills.

FORT DODGE 6, SE POLK 3

SE Polk 200 100 0 –3 6 0

Fort Dodge 000 420 x –6 7 0

WP–Haley Wills (4.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K). LP–Shania Yount-Wheels (3.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K). SV–Jalen Adams (2.33 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K). 2B–FD: Jalen Adams. 3B–SEP: Gretta Hartz. HR–SEP: Sydney Potter. SB–FD: Martyne Lowrey 2.