Submitted photo: the Newell-Fonda softball team has again qualified for the state tournament. Team members are, front row (left to right): Jaicee Vanderhoff, Sophie Stewart, Mia Walker, McKenna Sievers, Isabel Bartek and Grace Erickson. Middle: Elise Hinders, Alexis Mandernach, Emma Erickson,Greta Larsen, Anna Bellcock, Mary Walker, Macy Sievers and Anna Mercer. Back: Coach Jenna Snyder, Kinzee Hinders, Maggie Walker, Bailey Sievers, Ella Larsen, Kierra Jungers and head coach Courtney Darrow.

There is one more goal on Newell-Fonda’s softball to-do list.

The top-ranked Mustangs had three goals coming into the season.

Win the Twin Lakes Conference? Check.

Qualify for the state tournament? Check.

Earn a state championship? To be determined.

The Mustangs worked through a perfect 11-game slate in the Twin Lakes Conference, then squeaked out a 1-0 regional final victory over Exira-EHK to reach the state field.

“That was definitely a tighter game than we wanted (for the regional championship),” said N-F head coach Courtney (Vaughn) Darrow, a 2008 Fort Dodge Senior High graduate. “But as a coach, I would take that game 100 times over a blowout game.

“We are going to see that every game against the top eight teams in the state.”

Newell-Fonda (35-5 overall) has been a staple at state softball, qualifying 13 times in the past 16 seasons. The Mustangs’ only state championship came in 2008, and they have been in Fort Dodge nine times since.

N-F enters as the top seed, but still remembers bowing out earlier than expected last season as one of 1A’s top contenders.

“Losing in the first round (last year) and getting upset has been a huge motivation,” Darrow said. “It has been in the back of their mind that they have something to prove.

“The team has unfinished business to take care of.”

The Mustangs are used to state success in the athletic realm. The softball team houses 12 athletes who were also part of the state championship basketball squad, and nine athletes who competed at state track and field.

“They are used to having a target on their back with any sport,” Darrow said. “Every game you go into, you see who can come out 1-0. You are going to get everyone’s best punch…at the end of the night, you can’t overlook anyone.

“We do our best to go out and compete for each other. We all love doing that.”

Darrow, who is in her third season as head coach, enjoys how her team competes — especially when they made their trip back to Rogers Park for the Fort Dodge Invitational last month. The Mustangs faced the second-ranked (Class 5A) Dodgers, eighth-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy (5A) and No. 5 Central Springs (2A).

“I love coming to the Fort Dodge tournament and playing against the best teams in the state,” Darrow said. “I’m glad Coach (Andi) Adams feels that we belong in the field. We held our ground.

“We are going to give it our best (at state). (At the FDSH Invite), we lost to three state tournament teams. Those losses and our schedule helped prepare us to see how we stack up.”

The senior class of Maggie Walker, Bailey Sievers and Ella Larsen are making their fourth consecutive trip.

“These girls play so loose in every practice and game,” Darrow said. “They are laughing on the diamond and are having fun out there.

“When it comes down to it, they go out there to be 1-0. They are a great group.”

State Opener

The Mustangs, who won 13 straight games after the Fort Dodge Invitational, will face eighth-seed North Butler (20-5) in their first game on Monday.

First pitch in the opening game will be at 11 a.m. on Kruger Seeds Field (Diamond 1).

Freshman pitcher Kierra Jungers has been a guiding force in the circle. Jungers (26-3) is eighth in Class 1A and 13th in the state with 242 strikeouts. She holds a 1.03 ERA in 169-plus innings.

Macy Sievers (.439), Ella Larsen (.431), Mary Walker (.419) and Anna Bellcock are all hitting over .400 for Newell-Fonda.

Larsen is the squad’s home-run leader with four, while Macy Sievers and Maggie Walker have three each. Larsen is the RBI leader with 47; Macy Sievers (41) Maggie Walker (38) and Bellcock (34) are right behind.

The Mustangs have stolen 187 bases, led by Bailey Sievers (36), Macy Sievers (29), Larsen (26) and Maggie Walker (24).

Kenzie Groen is the leader at the plate for North Butler, batting .400. Kiya Johnson is hitting .375, while leadoff hitter Brooke Trees is at .343.

Emma Ott has driven in 20 runs for NBHS. Johnson has 19 RBI.

Johnson (19-3), only a sophomore, has worked 148-plus innings, carrying a 1.65 ERA with 176 strikeouts.

This is the first state appearance since 2014 for the Bearcats, and fifth overall.