Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Troy Banning Tory Bennett of Fort Dodge throws the ball to first base on Tuesday at Webster City. For more photos, please visit CU.freemanjournal.net

WEBSTER CITY — The play didn’t make a difference in the outcome of Tuesday’s game between Fort Dodge and Webster City.

In a tight game somewhere down the road, though, it’s the kind of extra effort that could be the difference between winning and losing.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Dodger right fielder Malia Lowrey made a sliding basket catch on a ball hit down the line. From her knees, Lowrey then fired the ball to first base to complete a double play and suddenly end the frame.

Top-ranked (Class 5A) Fort Dodge already led 10-0 at the time, so it would’ve been easy to let Lowrey’s web gem go unnoticed afterward.

Instead, head coach Andi Adams mentioned it first.

“Malia made an incredible play,” Adams said. “It was such an athletic catch in the first place, but to make a snap throw to first all in one fluid motion…that’s the kind of situation that could either save or win us a game in the future. Little things like that add up and make a huge difference.”

Lowrey wasn’t all glove in last night’s 16-0, four-inning FDSH victory over the Lynx. The sophomore also went 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and a pair of RBI.

The Dodgers pushed their dominant win streak to seven, in a stretch where they’ve outscored opponents by a combined run differential of 79-2.

First team all-state sophomore Jalen Adams, who is now batting over .600 for the season with a 14-1 record and a 0.47 earned run average from the pitcher’s circle, tossed a four-inning no-hitter. Adams was also 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI at the plate.

Adams didn’t walk anyone either, but hit three Webster City batters — including leadoff hitter Kelly Stoakes twice and five-year Lynx starter Taylor McKinney.

“We feel terrible about that,” coach Adams said. “Jalen never hits three people in a game. It was good to hear Taylor didn’t have anything broken (in the rib area). We were worried, and obviously didn’t do anything intentionally.

“The last thing we wanted to do was leave the wrong impression (Andi Adams was a former all-state player and a current Hall of Fame member at Webster City).”

Martyne Lowrey was 3-for-3 with two runs, and Haley Wills went 2-for-2 with three runs and two RBI. Sophia Klinger collected two hits, scored twice and drove in three.

Fort Dodge also stole 12 bases. Klinger, Tory Bennett, Loghen Schnetzer and Maia Davis swiped two bags each.

“We got good production up and down the lineup; it was great to see our 5 through 9 hitters go (10-for-14 with 11 runs and nine RBI),” Adams said. “Tory and Loghen made some really nice plays defensively. Jalen’s just on one of those hot streaks and has so much confidence going right now (as a pitcher). I thought our outfield defense was phenomenal behind her.

“Webster City was ranked (in 3A) to start the season, and they were 6-3 coming into (last night’s contest). They’d played (No. 2) Humboldt close (lost 6-5). So we weren’t going to assume anything. We never do. Every opponent has to have our undivided attention.”

The Dodgers return to action on Wednesday at home against Mason City. First varsity pitch is set for 5 p.m.

FORT DODGE 16, WEBSTER CITY 0 (4)

Fort Dodge 325 6 — 16 16 0

Webster City 000 0 — 0 0 2

WP–Jalen Adams (14-1; 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K). 2B–FD: Jalen Adams, Martyne Lowrey. SB–FD: Sophia Klinger 2, Tory Bennett 2, Loghen Schnetzer 2, Maia Davis 2, Haley Wills, Martyne Lowrey, Tristin Doster, Malia Lowrey.