-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Addie Pearson of Albia slide underneath the tags against Estherville Lincoln Center during 3A quarterfinals on Tuesday at Rogers Park in Fort Dodge

It has been an emotional time for the Albia community, but on Tuesday, the softball team provided yet another positive escape.

Down by a run to Estherville-LC in the seventh, the Lady Dees rallied, advancing to the Class 3A semifinals with a 2-1 walk-off win at Rogers Park.

Albia (29-3 overall) will now take on two-time defending champion Williamsburg (34-7) on Wednesday at 4:45 p.m. on Channel Seeds Field.

Earlier this month, a fire hit the R.O. Cramer building along the Albia town square. In the midst of tragedy, the softball program has been a constant glimmer of hope.

Sophomore Zoey Zanoni drove in freshman Brooke Rubel with the game-winning hit, setting off a wild celebration as the Lady Dees look to add to their 2020 state championship banner in their sixth state appearance over the last decade.

“It was great,” Zanoni said. “I told the team before the half-inning that this game isn’t over and that we are winning it. I went up to the plate just thinking about moving the runner over, but my dad always told me to swing if the pitch is there, so that’s what I did.”

Veteran Albia head coach Larry Achenbach, who is now 379-150 in his career, also made a key move when he entered Rubel into the batting order in the seventh. Despite having just 10 at-bats she connected with a hard liner that got past the Estherville-LC infield and plated the game-tying run.

“Brooke came on in the regional tournament when our catcher had appendicitis,” Achenbach said. “She probably had all but one or two of her at-bats during regionals, but she did a great job. I told her to get ready and she stepped up and made a big, big play.

“That is just how this team has been all year. There is no quit in them.”

Zanoni finished 2-for-3 with the RBI as Grace Pence tossed a six-hitter with 12 strikeouts and no walks.

Estherville-LC (23-8) will now play Washington (29-10) on Wednesday in a consolation game at 10 a.m. on Yankee Field. The Midgets earned a spot at state after besting Algona in 12 innings, 3-2.

Hillary Ruschy, a senior, had a solo home run in the fourth for the Midgets. Rylee Yager had six strikeouts inside the circle.

ALBIA 2, ESTHERVILLE-LC 1

Estherville-LC 000 100 0 — 1 6 2

Albia 000 000 2 — 2 5 2

WP–Grace Pence (7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 12 K, 0 BB). LP–Rylee Yager (6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 8 K, 0 BB).

HR–ELC: Hillary Ruschy. 2B–ELC: Cara Schiltz; A: Zoey Zanoni. RBI–ELC: Hillary Ruschy; A: Zoey Zanoni, Brooke Rubel.