Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: The Fort Dodge softball team holds up their Class 5A state runner-up trophy. The defending champion Dodgers lost to Waukee Northwest 2-0 in the state championship game at Rogers Park on Thursday night. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

The tears were going to come either way, win or lose.

Knowing this was it. The end of an era. Their final day together, as either back-to-back state champions or three-time finalists.

The top-ranked and top-seeded Fort Dodge softball team wanted to ride off into the sunset together with the title trophy in tow. Instead, it was rival Waukee Northwest celebrating a 2-0 Class 5A final victory on Kruger Seeds Field at Rogers Park Thursday evening.

The loss stung this close-knit group of Dodgers, without question. The finality of it all, though, is what hurt the most.

“I held it together until Jalen said to me, ‘I just don’t want it to be over,'” a crestfallen Andi Adams admitted after sharing a personal moment with her daughter. “We knew this was it in the back of our minds. But I didn’t really want to think about that or even admit it to myself, because coaching Jalen, her classmates (the fellow seniors) and this group has been an honor and a privilege. They’ve given us memories we’ll take with us for the rest of our lives. I didn’t want it to be over, either.

“Losing is tough, obviously. It’s also a part of the game sometimes. As I’ve said before, it’s both the beauty and the beast of softball — how unpredictable it can be on a given night, and how much the inches matter. We came out on top (a year ago). We didn’t (last night). We didn’t (in 2020). It’s painful to come all this way and get so close, then come up short. But (accepting the setback) isn’t nearly as tough as saying goodbye to this team. I love them. I’m proud of them. I’m always going to be there for them…and I hope they’ll continue to always be there for each other.”

Another pitching duel between Adams and Wolves junior Maddie Oetzmann — the third of the season between the star hurlers — saw very little room for error or opportunity yet again in front of a standing-room-only crowd. In the end, Oetzmann and Northwest (34-8 overall) got the final say, winning in almost carbon-copy fashion to a triumph over the Dodgers (37-7) on June 2.

Same score, same field. Same result.

“It was just two heavyweights going at it,” Coach Adams said. “(The Wolves) made every play they needed to make. They took advantage of one inning where we didn’t execute the way we needed to. But that’s what you expect in a championship game. We knew it was going to be a battle.

“I’m not going to make any excuses. The first thing I asked our players was, ‘did you feel like you gave it your all? Did you try as hard as you could?’ These were two evenly-matched teams, which was evident by what happened during the regular season (with Northwest winning 2-0 and 3-2 and FDSH prevailing 8-5 and 2-1). You just hate it because you’re crushed for the kids. They shouldn’t hang their heads or be ashamed of anything. Just to be in this position again (for a third straight year), especially at a school our size (in 5A), is unheard of.”

The only bend in the scorebook came in the fifth inning. Ava Smith singled, and after a failed bunt attempt, Oetzmann did the same. Leadoff hitter Bailie Kroll then bounced a ball back to Adams, who hesitated for a brief moment in thinking about trying to get the force at third base. By the time she turned, the speedy Kroll was safe and the bases were loaded.

Adams got Wolves senior star Reagan Bartholomew to hit a soft liner to shortstop Tory Bennett for the second out, but Kiana Carnes followed by lofting a clutch single to left-center field that plated the contest’s only two runs.

Fort Dodge managed only four hits against Oetzmann (24-2), the 5A all-tournament captain who didn’t walk a batter and struck out five. The Dodgers didn’t have a runner even reach second base on the right hander, who gave up only 12 hits and two runs in 21 innings over three appearances versus FDSH in 2022.

Jalen Adams (23-4) — who joined senior classmate Bennett and Dodger freshmen Mariah Myers and Lucy Porter on the all-tourney team — was nearly as effective, though Northwest made her work more for outs. The Wolves only struck out once on Thursday, a little over 24 hours after tagging Muscatine all-state pitcher Maura Chalupa for seven runs and 12 hits in the semifinals.

The real struggle came in letting go afterward. Fort Dodge players smiled for the cameras as much as they could while gathering together with the second-place trophy. They made the long, lonely walk off the field and out the back gate from there, then shared an emotional conversation before one more tearful group hug. Each individual embrace afterward was long, sincere and emotional.

“I know it’s not easy to put any perspective on this right now, because it’s all kind of surreal and difficult to believe,” Coach Adams said, “but we’ve had an absolute blast. It’s been the kind of fun we’ll never forget. Through good times. Through tough times. We did all of this for each other.”

Adams then paused to try and compose herself and find words for what the senior class of Jalen Adams, Bennett and Haley Wills — 174-30 overall record, five state tournament appearances, three finals bids and a 2021 championship — meant to her program, the community and herself.

“They’re outstanding players, but even better people,” Adams said. “Just phenomenal representatives of Fort Dodge. This goes way beyond softball. They did things the right way. They put their heart and soul into this game and their community. They set an example for what all of our players coming back should strive to be and achieve.

“I know what the scoreboard says (Thursday), but it doesn’t change the fact that these girls will forever be champions.”

WAUKEE NW 2, FORT DODGE 0

Waukee NW 000 020 0 — 2 6 0

Fort Dodge 000 000 0 — 0 4 1

WP–Maddie Oetzmann (24-2; 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K); LP–Jalen Adams (23-4; 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K). 2B–WNW: Ava Smith.