-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Tory Bennett of Fort Dodge makes a toss to second base for the out against Muscatine in the finals during Fort Dodge Invitational on Saturday

By DANA BECKER

sports@messengernews.net

Fans in attendance at Rogers Park Saturday night for the finals of the Fort Dodge Invitational saw just the kind of heavyweight showdown they expected to see.

Following six scoreless innings of action, Rylie Moss and second-ranked (Class 5A) Muscatine claimed the title over No. 1 (5A) Fort Dodge, 1-0.

Freshman Ashleigh Ramser came around from second to score the lone run of the contest and conclude two days of action in one of the toughest tournaments in the state of Iowa.

Moss, a senior who has committed to the University of Iowa, delivered a hard hit ball to left off her future teammate, Dodger junior Jalen Adams.

Maura Chalupa, who had doubled before being lifted for Ramser in the seventh, was able to get the final three outs and secure the win inside the circle for the Muskies (18-2 overall).

“It was the kind of game everybody expected,” FDSH head coach Andi Adams said. “We went after Moss and tried to get her out to avoid facing the heart of their lineup. She made contact on a great pitch by Jalen and delivered.

“Even though we lost, I feel like we gained so much from this game and hopefully, if we see them again later this year or at state, we can show what we learned.”

Chalupa allowed just five hits, striking out six. She pitched around jams in multiple innings, thanks in large part to her defense behind her.

“It was a great, competitive game between two great teams,” Muscatine head coach Steve Hopkins said. “Coming up here, it gives us a great chance to compete against tough teams. We’re happy to come up here, sleep in strange beds and sort of go through a sort of dress rehearsal if we are lucky enough to make it back for state.

“I just can’t say enough good things about Andi and her program, especially Jalen. She is the best pitcher we have faced this year.”

Asked about the Dodgers electing to pitch to Moss with first base open in the seventh, Hopkins agreed with the decision.

“If I am (Fort Dodge), I am going to pitch to Rylie (in the seventh),” Hopkins said. “Jalen kept her in check for the most part. Rylie is a player and she came up big for us in a big-time situation.

“Same for Maura. She had a big hit, pitched a great game and I’m just happy.”

Adams, who also pitched Fort Dodge to a win over top-ranked (3A) Davenport Assumption earlier in the day and bested No. 1 (1A) Newell-Fonda on Friday night, worked out of her own tough spots vs. the Muskies.

In the first, she picked up a strikeout with runners on first and second, got Moss to hit a grounder in the second to escape a two-on jam and recorded her third strikeout followed by a liner to leave two on in the seventh.

“Jalen wanted to challenge (Moss) and go after her,” Adams said. “They have some pretty good hitters behind her so we knew the risk of walking her.

“I’m just so proud of the entire team. This was a tough two games to play and they really responded to the challenge. I know we are a better team after playing in this tournament, and I know we will be a better team for it going forward.”

Adams, Martyne Lowrey, Mariah Myers, Tory Bennett and Sophia Klinger each had a hit for the Dodgers, with Myers, Bennett and Maia Davis reaching twice.

Bennett made a pair of highlight-reel plays in the second, robbing hits for the Muscatine batters. The junior snagged a ball deep at shortstop and executed a perfect flip to Lowrey at second for another out.

“Tory was just incredible,” Adams said. “She was making plays that were out-of-this-world.”

Fort Dodge stretched its win streak to 14 games with a 4-1 victory over Davenport Assumption in the semifinals earlier in the day. Adams struck out seven and allowed just four hits with Lowrey recording a two-RBI triple.

Bennett and Myers each drove in a run and both had two hits.

“I just can’t thank the entire staff at Rogers Park and our athletic department enough for everything they do to make this tournament happen,” Adams said. “Hosting 16 teams over two days is a tall task, but they stepped up and made it happen.”

The Dodgers return to action Monday when they host Ankeny Centennial for a doubleheader.

Mustangs place eighth

Newell-Fonda finished eighth after dropping a pair of games on Saturday.

The Mustangs, who pushed Fort Dodge in the quarterfinals on Friday night, fell to Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 5-0, and Central Springs, 2-1.

Kennedy would place fifth overall, besting Winterset, 8-2. Atlantic finished ninth after topping Ankeny and Ballard.