-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Lucy Porter of Fort Dodge makes a diving catch against Winterset during 4A semi-finals on Wednesday at Rogers Park

At one point during Fort Dodge’s Class 4A state semifinal against Winterset on Wednesday afternoon, the game had become so simultaneously entertaining and intense that nearly every fan at Rogers Park — regardless of their allegiance — stopped to watch.

They filled the bleachers and lined the fences. It became must-see softball. The contest stretched well into extra innings, and flirted with the three-hour mark before all was said and done.

Ultimately, the seasoned Huskies — defending their title and riding the momentum of having the best player in the state active for the first time in 2023 this week — found a way past the Dodgers by a 6-4 final in 10 innings on Iowa Central Field.

This one lived up to its advanced billing and then some. Despite the crushing loss, FDSH head coach Andi Adams and her third-seeded squad felt some semblance of closure in knowing they had emptied their tank on the field.

“I told our kids that I had coaches and fans from other schools coming up to me afterward, telling me, ‘this is what state softball is all about’ and ‘that’s how the game is supposed to be played,'” Adams said. “On one hand, it’s so hard hear and offer some kind of perspective (to the players) after such a heartbreaking (end result). But you also take pride in knowing our girls put their heart and soul into trying to win this.

“That’s softball for you. We weren’t perfect. Far from it. We made mistakes and have some regrets. So do I as a coach. I also know, though, that at the end of the day, there has to be a winner and a loser. You aren’t always on the right side of that. All you can do is try your best and your hardest. We did that.”

There were clutch hits, diving catches, pivotal pitches and memorable moments all over the field. Every time the seventh-seeded Huskies (27-12 overall) looked finished, they’d climb back into a favorable position. When the Dodgers (32-10) had their backs against the wall, they’d respond.

The biggest difference? Ultimately, Fort Dodge wasn’t able to take advantage of its prime opportunities at the plate in a fourth consecutive state semifinal appearance. The Dodgers had plenty of chances, but stranded 11 runners on base — including a glaring nine in scoring position.

FDSH innings ended with runners on second and third base in both the first and sixth frames; a runner on third in the fourth; and a runner on second in the third, fifth, eighth and 10th.

“It seems like we were one hit away at a lot of different moments,” Adams said. “I don’t know how many to be exact, but thinking back, it’s hard not to wonder what one more hit would have done to change the direction of everything.

“We put line drives out there numerous times. It seemed like (the ball) would either go right to a defender, or they’d make an incredible play. So at the end of the day, you have to give Winterset credit. We didn’t lose that game. They won it.”

The Dodgers were in business right out of the gate, plating a run in the first inning and two more in the second for a 3-0 lead. Junior Mackenzie McIlrath delivered an RBI single to score senior Maggie Elsbecker, and sophomore Meah McCaleb and Elsbecker knocked in runs to keep the early momentum in Fort Dodge’s favor.

“Each player gave everything they had to keep this game going,” Elsbecker said. “Once you enter extra innings, it’s all about the grit and guts that you have as a player. Every single one of us showed that.

“When we made a mistake, we flushed it away and picked each other up. We kept the game in front of us instead of thinking about what we could have done or should have done differently.”

The Dodgers were still protecting a precarious 3-2 lead in the sixth when Jena Young — one of the top recruits in the entire midwest and a future Iowa Hawkeye — drilled a solo home run over the center-field fence. It wasn’t the game winner by any means — and Young was retired in her other four at-bats by FDSH sophomore pitcher Lucy Porter — but that momentum shift provided by their leader seemed to give the Huskies the life, and confidence, they needed.

“Look, I have nothing but great things to say about Winterset’s program and Jena Young,” Adams said. “She’s been out all season (Young tore her ACL during basketball), but I know she’s worked incredibly hard to get back for this opportunity. As a senior, you don’t get these moments back. I respect that.

“Having her in the lineup changes everything, both physically and emotionally. For the most part, Lucy did an amazing job against her and really as a whole to keep their offense in check for as long as she could. We saw what they did in the quarterfinals (routing top-seeded Carlisle with 11 runs). We knew we were going to have to put up runs. We had our chances.”

Fort Dodge had to mount a comeback of its own late, trailing 4-3 and three outs away from defeat. Eighth-grader Hope Alstott walked, and on a sacrifice bunt by McIlrath, raced to third and then home on Winterset’s only error of the day.

The Dodgers were on the verge of a walk-off win in the bottom of the eighth after Macy Brown walked and Ellie Doster singled. Ashlyn Wills, McCaleb and Elsbecker all hit the ball hard in consecutive fashion, but the ball never did drop on lineouts to the first baseman, centerfielder and shortstop, respectively.

The Huskies finally snapped the tie in the 10th on a bloop single, another single, a sacrifice fly, and a single off the wall. Porter had allowed only two hits total in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, but surrendered four in the 10th.

“Are there some pitches Lucy would like to have back? Or some decisions either the players or I would like to have back? Of course,” Adams said. “There are a lot of little things we didn’t do that added up to some bigger things, which is the way this sport goes. When you have a team like Winterset down 3-0, you have to continue to capitalize. Instead we went four straight innings (and seven of the last eight) without scoring.

“It’s a game of inches.”

McIlrath had three hits for FDSH, as did Doster. Wills reached base three times.

“I’m extremely proud of the way we played (Wednesday), and really, the whole season,” McIlrath said. “We went into this game confident in ourselves and the work we’d put in for this exact moment.

“Although we came up short (in the semis), we persevered through 10 straight innings with a strong-hitting (opponent). We’re not done yet. We still have a game (Thursday evening), and we’re confident that we can become the third-place team in (4A for 2023).”

Sophomore Brynn Acton had four hits and scored twice for the Huskies, who are in search of the fifth state title in program history. Eighth-grader Makenna Olson and sophomore Ashlynn Devine added two hits a piece.

The Dodgers meet fourth-seeded Norwalk (32-10) for bronze at 6 p.m. Thursday on Iowa Central Field (Diamond 2). Winterset will try to repeat as 4A champs against fellow upstart and eighth-seeded North Scott (28-11) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday on Kruger Seeds Field (Diamond 1).

“We have the opportunity to play together one last time,” Adams said. “Just like being here in the first place, I don’t ever want our players to take that for granted. This is a special group with such a strong bond, and there’s nothing like state softball. We’ll be ready.”

WINTERSET 6, FORT DODGE 4 (10)

Winterset 002 002 000 2 — 6 12 1

Fort Dodge 120 000 100 0 — 4 10 2

WP–Brynn Acton (11-7; 6.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K); LP–Lucy Porter (21-9; 10 IP, 11 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 3 K). 2B–FD: Mackenzie McIlrath; W: Brynn Acton, Avary Darling. HR–W: Jena Young. SB–FD: Ashlyn Wills 3, Meah McCaleb, Naomi Alexander.