Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Ashlyn Wills of Fort Dodge slides safely into third base on Tuesday at Rogers Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Tuesday night’s matchup wasn’t just about a win for Fort Dodge.

It was more about community.

For the first time since 2014, the Dodgers and St. Edmond met on the softball diamond in front of a packed house at Rogers Park.

The second-rated (Class 4A) Dodgers (9-3 overall) pounded out 12 hits to earn a 10-0, six-inning victory over the No. 10 (1A) Gaels (10-2).

“This team is learning on the fly,” said FDSH head coach Andi Adams. “We are able to make adjustments as needed in order to keep doing what we have to do.”

This showcase highlighted two young ranked squads, but also, gave the town an opportunity to give back. Fans who were supporting either the red and black or green and white supported long-time Fort Dodge Senior High social studies teacher Todd Constable.

Fans from both sides donated money to Constable’s family for medical expenses after Constable recently had quadruple bypass heart surgery in Des Moines. The community raised over $1,200.

“Our team is a family and so is this community,” Adams said. “We all proved that, coming together in a time of need. That’s the bottom line at the end of the day. It’s what matters most.”

The Dodgers, who earned a 2-1 victory in the last meeting between the programs in June of 2014, were able to put together a workman-like performance yesterday evening.

Sophomore Lucy Porter (6-3) turned in a masterful pitching performance, giving up just three hits and striking out eight batters with zero free passes. Porter allowed only five total base runners.

“Lucy threw a great game,” Adams said. “She has been somewhat frustrated with her change-up, but she definitely had it working (on Tuesday).”

The Gaels held the Dodgers scoreless in the first inning. Fort Dodge then broke through with two in the second and never looked back.

“We were disappointed with the way we played,” said SEHS head coach Bill Shirbroun. “Whether they scored two, six or 10, you can’t win a game with zero runs.”

The Dodgers added two, four and two in the final three frames to close out the contest early in six innings.

“We talked about how this was going to be a tough week, playing Waukee Northwest (No. 2 in 5A), Southeast Polk (No. 3 in 5A) and the Gaels,” Adams said. “We knew we just had to play the way we were capable and keep the momentum going.”

Sophomore Meah McCaleb recorded an RBI-single in the second. Sophomore Ashlyn Wills broke open the fourth with a triple to plate junior Macy Brown and Wills later scored on an error.

Porter helped her cause in the fifth with an RBI-double, plating senior Lydia Lara. Eighth-grader Ellie Doster had a single to bring home freshman Maeleena Myer.

The final runs in the fifth came from Wills again with a two-run single.

The Dodgers closed out the game with an RBI-double from sophomore Cadence Touney and an RBI-single from Lara.

Eighth-grader Hope Alstott was 3-for-4 on the night and is now batting over .600 on the young season. Wills finished the night 2-for-2 with three RBI and Brown had two hits.

The bottom three hitters in the Dodger lineup were a combined 5-for-8 with five RBI.

Fort Dodge got some key defensive plays as well, as Touney made a diving catch and a catch against the fence.

“Cadence is fun to watch,” Adams said. “She just needs to keep believing in herself.

“Hope has been a very consistent player so far. Not much phases her. She has really bought into the program.”

St. Edmond threatened in the first ,as leadoff hitter Faith Shirbroun was hit by a pitch. Shirbroun — a freshman — swiped second to give the Gaels a runner in scoring position with no outs.

In the second, the Gaels started with a runner on as junior pitcher Kaili Henning had a single. Henning was thrown out at second on a fielder’s choice from senior Anna Kolacia, who advanced to second.

“We competed, but we just didn’t make the plays we had to,” Shirbroun said. “The game was sped up. That’s a speed we weren’t used to playing.”

Porter then struck out the side to end the threat.

Sophomore Lauren Gibb began the fourth with a leadoff double and reached third on a wild pitch and was stranded.

Gibb recorded two of the three Gael hits. Henning (6-1) took the loss. She struck out three and walked three.

“Hopefully this can make us better as we can only learn from our mistakes,” Shirbroun said. “Andi is a wizard with her players on the bases, and she proved that.”

The Dodgers hit the field again on Thursday when they travel to Marshalltown for a 5 p.m. doubleheader.

St. Edmond is back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Hampton-Dumont-CAL for a 6 p.m. start.