Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Returning letterwinners for the Fort Dodge softball team team are, front row (left to right): Katie Mason, Kam Gochee, Ellie Doster, Aubrey Alstott and Hope Alstott. Back: Ava Wessels, Lucy Porter, Ashlyn Wills, Maeleena Meyer, Cadence Touney, Meah McCaleb and Teryn Rippentrop.

Every time Andi Adams looks over to first base, she remembers.

Remembers his quick wit, his demeanor, his friendship.

Aaron Miller was a vital piece to the Fort Dodge softball program. His tragic passing this past offseason in a car accident has left Adams’ Dodgers in a period of emotional transition both on and off the field as a highly-anticipated 2025 campaign gets under way.

“To say we are trying to adjust is an understatement,” Adams admitted. “I’ve looked over so many times and thought of him. He was my person. I would say something or suggest something and it would be done before I told him.

“He always did it without question, and it was always for the good of our team and the kids.”

The Dodgers adopted the mantra, “We Will for A-Mill” for this upcoming season. It will be their driving force in the search for an eighth consecutive state tournament appearance.

Fort Dodge set a new standard in the postseason last year, as it became just the 12th program in Iowa high school history to earn seven straight state tournament bids. Davenport Assumption (nine) and Lisbon (seven) extended their active streaks last season as well, with the Dodgers’ run currently tied for second and the longest in school history.

The modern-day state record is nine, held by Woodward-Granger (1991-99), Akron-Westfield (2003-11), Central Springs (2015-23) and Assumption (current).

These Dodgers are hungry, young, loud and ready.

“The camaraderie with this team is incredible,” said Adams, who is 772-308 in 24 seasons at FDSH and 825-341 overall as a head cocah. “They get along so well and truly care about each other. You can’t coach that. It really sets us apart.”

Bolstered by a five-pack of seniors guiding a young group, FDSH has a plan in place to continue their success. Lucy Porter, Meah McCaleb, Ashlyn Wills, Cadence Touney and Katie Mason will spearhead the Dodgers in their final prep season together on the diamond.

“They’ve set the tone for practice,” Adams said. “This is a player-led team, and those are the best to have.

“They have a little edge to them. I love that edge.”

PITCHING

Porter is back — and she’s ready.

The Dodger senior, who is headed to Minnesota State next season, had surgery on October 16 to repair a torn bicep in her throwing arm. She has fully recovered and is back close to 100 percent

“Lucy loves to keep it at a high pace,” Adams said. “She shows great leadership and always wants to pitch live in practice.

“She is incredibly tough.”

Last season, Porter sported a 19-11 record with 170 strikeouts and a 2.37 ERA for the Dodgers, who won a Class 4A consolation game at state after losing in the quarterfinals.

Porter, a two-time second-team all-stater, is 67-24 with 486 strikeouts in her four-year varsity career.

“Lucy helps set the tone to everything,” Adams said. “She doesn’t want to leave any stone unturned as a senior. She is a Dodger through and through.

“She’s the first one here and the last one to leave every day.”

Freshman Aubrey Alstott will flank Porter. Alstott posted a 12-2 record with 37 strikeouts and a 2.13 ERA before ever setting foot on campus as an eighth-grader in 2024.

Mason is another experienced arm who saw some varsity time a season ago and was the primary junior varsity hurler.

“Aubrey is such a hard woker and is so even-keeled,” Adams said. “She just keeps getting better and is so mature.

“Katie gives us a different speed and can throw batters off more with her approach. Lucy and Aubrey are throwing hard. Katie has been pitching well and hits the zone, doing a good job mixing up speeds.”

INFIELD

First team all-stater Ellie Doster, a sophomore, will be back behind the plate. Doster had 51 hits — second most on the squad — and led the team with 17 extra-base hits while driving in a team-high 43 runs, batting .389.

“Ellie is so good behind the plate. Her catching knowledge is unbelievable,” Adams said. “She is strong as a bull, and her arm is just crazy good.”

Junior Ava Wessels is also a catcher for the Dodgers after scoring 20 times as predominantly a courtesy runner last season.

Porter and Alstott, along with sophomore Calliegh Zimmermann, will be at first base.

Porter is a threat at the plate. Last season, she hit .322 with 37 hits and 26 RBI. She has 106 career hits and has driven in 89 runs.

Alstott batted .259 with 14 hits and 14 RBI as an eighth-grader. Zimmermann had 31 hits and scored 20 runs, driving in 12 and hitting .323.

Wills be back at second base for the Dodgers. Last season, she hit .269 with 28 hits and 10 RBI.

“Ashlyn has been my second baseman since her freshman year,” Adams said. “She has great range. Second base is harder than people think. You have to cover a lot of ground and be quick with your decision making.”

Two-time first-team all-stater Hope Alstott, still just a sophomore, is back at shortstop. Alstott hit .430 a year ago with a team high 52 hits and 26 RBI, while also stealing 30 bases and scoring 52 runs.

“Hope’s range has been super good at short,” Adams said. “She knows the game and played most of (last year) with a broken thumb.

“Offensively, she is going to just be so effective as our leadoff hitter.”

McCaleb, who will play volleyball at Iowa Central, returns again at the hot corner. She led the Dodgers in runs scored with 56 in 2024, and was second behind Alstott with 51 hits. She drove in 22 runs and stole 20 bases.

For her career, McCaleb has 54 stolen bases, 122 hits, 130 runs and 74 RBI.

“Meah’s knowledge of the game is just on another level,” Adams said. “She’s the catalyst and is just so natural with everything she does. We have great talks about where we should position or change our defense depending on who we are playing.

“Hope, Meah and Lucy have their own language. Meah is an awesome leader. She has worked hard and is going to be a difference maker again for us.”

OUTFIELD

After missing her junior year with a torn labrum, Touney returns for her senior year in left field. As a sophomore, she hit .344 with 44 hits, 33 runs scored and a team high 33 RBI.

“After losing Cadence for a year, she came in determined to get her spot back,” Adams said. “She wanted to earn it and worked hard. She is strong and looks like a collegiate athlete.

“Cadence runs the bases like a deer and glides when she plays left field. I love that she wants it so much.”

Centerfield will bring a new face with a familiar name to the Dodger lineup, as eight-grader Macy Wills has taken charge in preseason camp.

“Macy reads the ball so well off the bat. It’s impressive,” Adams said. “She has a cannon for an arm, and is accurate with it. She’s also patient and smart on the bases.

“Macy doesn’t play like an eighth grader because she’s been around the game for a long time. She’s played with her (older) sisters (Haley and Ashlyn) and in competitive situations growing up.”

Junior Teryn Rippentrop is back in right field. Rippentrop scored 15 runs on 16 hits as a sophomore.

“Teryn has worked her tail off,” Adams said. “She has been in the weight room with Brock (Adams) and it shows.”

Also vying time in the outfield will be junior Maeleena Meyer. In 2024, Meyer hit .313 with 21 hits and 16 runs scored, while driving in 10 runs.

Junior Kam Gochee is also looking for a spot.

“Mae and Kam have different skills that work in our outfield,” Adams said. “They’re both very capable and have their talents that we will do our best to utilize.”

The Dodgers will be without sophomore Maddie Hoshaw, who is recovering from a torn ACL. Hoshaw scored 36 runs and stole nine bases as a freshman last summer. She is slated to return this coming fall.

Junior Natalie Baade, freshmen Grace Nichols and Sydney Carver and eighth-grader Kinsley Nelson are also on the varsity roster.

SCHEDULE

Adams has made it well known that a tough schedule is the Dodger way. The Dodgers load the slate with powerhouses to be prepared for the postseason run.

“You have to do that,” Adams said. “Wins and losses don’t mean anything if you aren’t being challenged. We need to be tested to play with the tough teams once the postseason and state tournament rolls around. Class 4A is always loaded.”

The stacked FDSH Invitational is June 20-21. The Dodgers are also scheduled to face West Des Moines Valley, Pleasant Valley, Norwalk, Dallas Center-Grimes, Ankeny Centennial, Waukee Northwest, Waukee, Des Moines Roosevelt and a host of others.

Fort Dodge opens at home on Monday against Sioux City North, followed by another contest on Tuesday against DC-G.

Adams will be assisted by Nick Vinson, Melissa Ward and Roger Porter.

2025 FORT DODGE SOFTBALL

ROSTER

Seniors — Lucy Porter, Meah McCaleb, Ashlyn Wills, Cadence Touney, Katie Mason.

Juniors — Teryn Rippentrop, Kam Gochee, Maeleena Meyer, Ava Wessels, Natale Baade.

Sophomores — Hope Alstott, Ellie Doster, Calliegh Zimmermann, Maddie Hoshaw, Delany Locke.

Freshmen — Aubrey Alstott, Grace Nichols, Sydney Carver, Lilly Hruska, Charlotte Breeser, Linnie Pratt, Emma Mathis.

Eighth-graders — Macy Wills, Kinsley Nelson, Meg Marsh, Rylee O’Brion, Emersyn Lara, Rylan Hewett, Karson Porter, Greyson Hinds, Allison Baade, Brooklyn Gilliland, Tori Jakeman.

SCHEDULE

May 26 — Sioux City North, 7 p.m.; 27 — Dallas Center-Grimes, 7 p.m.

June 2 — Mason City, 5 p.m.; 3 — at West Des Moines Valley; 4 — at Marshalltown, 5 p.m.; 7 — at West Des Moines Valley Shootout (vs. Pleasant Valley, 11 a.m. vs. Norwalk, 3 p.m.); 9 — Ames, 5 p.m.; 11 — at Des Moines Roosevelt, 3:30 p.m.; 12 — Waterloo East, 5 p.m.; 13 — Waukee Northwest, 7 p.m.; 16 — Des Moines East, 5 p.m.; 17 — Estherville-Lincoln Central, 7 p.m.; 20-21 — Fort Dodge Invitational; 23 — at Mason City, 5 p.m.; 25 — Des Moines Lincoln, 5 p.m.; 26 — Marshalltown, 5 p.m.; 27-28 — Linn-Mar/Alburnett tourney; 30 — at Ames, 5 p.m..

July 1 — at Ankeny Centennial, 7 p.m.; 2 — at Waterloo East, 5 p.m.; 7 — Cedar Falls, 7 p.m.; 8 — Waukee.