Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Mariah Myers of Fort Dodge was one of three Dodger unanimous first team all-CIML Iowa Conference choices for the 2022 softball season.

No matter how successful the Fort Dodge softball program becomes, head coach Andi Adams hopes Dodger players and fans never take all-conference honors for granted.

Especially when two teams from the same league square off for the Class 5A championship, which has happened in each of the last two seasons.

FDSH seniors Jalen Adams and Tory Bennett are joined by freshman Mariah Myers on the 2022 all-CIML Iowa Conference first team. Senior Haley Wills and Lucy Porter made the second squad.

The Dodgers and Waukee Northwest played last Thursday for the 5A title, with the Wolves prevailing. Northwest took the league crown by a half-game over Fort Dodge, and the programs traded turns at the No. 1 overall spot in the state’s largest class after splitting the regular-season series.

Last year, the Dodgers faced Ankeny Centennial — another member of the seven-team Iowa Division — for 5A supremacy.

“It’s pretty remarkable when you think about it,” Coach Adams said. “To have both (spots in the finals) coming from our small division in back-to-back years…it really shows we’ve taken on the very best, and held our own the whole time.

“This league has been a powerhouse. The level of talent and intensity was unmatched. But it also makes you appreciate just how hard it is to be on the all-conference (list). It’s a huge honor, and we will never downplay it or pretend like the recognition should be a given. This shows what your peers think of you…the (other CIML Iowa coaches) obviously have a great deal of respect for the fact that we made the finals in consecutive years.”

Adams logged a 23-4 pitching record for the Dodgers (37-7 overall, 20-4 in the league). The University of Iowa recruit sported an 0.67 earned run average, with 220 strikeouts in 157 innings. Opponents hit only .121 against her, and she walked just 15 batters.

At the plate, Adams hit a team-best .488 with seven home runs and 30 RBI.

Bennett, also a future Iowa Hawkeye, batted .481 with five homers, 41 driven in and 49 runs scored. She also stole 22 bases and didn’t strike out once.

Myers slugged an FDSH-best nine longballs, with 18 doubles, 37 RBI and a .476 average.

“The numbers speak for themselves when it comes to Jalen, Tory and Mariah,” Coach Adams said. “To put up those kinds of (statistics) against one of the Top-10 schedules in the entire state…I’m just very proud of all of them. That goes without saying. They’ve done things the right way and worked incredibly hard to get to where they are today.

“People may think they’re just naturals, or they’ve always been the best players at their age levels. Not true. This is what years of determination and resilience looks like.”

Bennett and Adams are now four-time first team all-CIML honorees, with Myers earning back-to-back recognition. All three were on the all-state list in 2021 as well, and should be again when the Iowa Girls Coaches Association releases its squads later this week.

Wills and Porter are repeat all-CIML Iowa members as well. Wills hit a career-best .350 with 41 RBI, 35 runs scored and 21 steals. Porter led the Dodgers in RBI with 44, batting .363 while accumulating a 14-3 pitching record with a 2.24 ERA.

“Haley and Lucy were also very deserving,” Adams said. “They’re first team all-conference caliber players who just happen to be playing in the toughest (league) in the state.

“They were invaluable pieces to the puzzle this season. In so many ways, all of our kids were.”

Juniors Maggie Elsbecker and Lydia Lara joined freshman Meah McCaleb on the honorable mention charts. All three outfielders were first-year starters.

Elsbecker batted .321, while Lara hit three homers and drove in 21. McCaleb was above the .300 mark all season, drove in 27, scored 24 times and stole 16 bases.

“We’re really going to be counting on Maggie, Lydia and Meah moving forward,” Adams said. “They proven themselves as consistent varsity performers, which we desperately needed with our outfield being in transition a few months ago. Having all of them back (in 2023) will be huge.”

Northwest was 35-7 overall and 20-3 in the division. The Wolves defeated Fort Dodge in the finals, 2-0, marking the third time they’d topped the Dodgers by two runs or less in five meetings this summer.

Ankeny Centennial (25-13, 13-9) and Ankeny (27-13, 13-11) followed Northwest and FDSH in the standings, with Ames, Mason City and Marshalltown rounding out the board.

Adams, Bennett, Myers, Maddie Oetzmann (Waukee Northwest), Bailie Kroll (Waukee Northwest), Mariah Parton (Ankeny), Ireland Buss (Ames) and Ellie Lynch (Ames) were unanimous selections.