Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Fort dodge players (left to right) Ava Wessels (14), Kam Gochee, Meah McCaleb and Hope Alstott (1) celebrate after the Dodgers beat Waverly-Shell Rock in a Class 4A regional semifinal on Saturday night. The Dodgers won 3-0. For more photos, visit CU at messengernews.net

Lucy Porter knew it could take a little time, but the senior also believed Fort Dodge would ultimately be playing for another state berth.

It was a slow start for both the eighth-ranked Dodgers (27-12 overall) and Waverly-Shell Rock (17-9), but Fort Dodge eventually rode the play of its seniors to a 3-0 win over the Go-Hawks in a Class 4A, Region 8 semifinal on Saturday at Rogers Park.

“We knew we were going to do it eventually,” said Porter, who is now 87-30 in her spectacular career. “I feel like the whole team was ready to go. We have been working all season to succeed at this point, and the team always knows not to overlook anyone. We just had to come in and do what we do best.”

Now the Dodgers will play ninth-ranked Western Dubuque (30-11) in a regional final on Tuesday at Rogers Park in an effort to qualify for state for an eighth consecutive time.

The Dodgers will look to punch their 21st ticket in program history.

“They wanted this,” said Fort Dodge head coach Andi Adams. “They were ready to play and knew they were going to have to go at it hard, because at this point, you can’t look past anyone.”

Porter was patient and efficient in the circle. She allowed two hits, and the only other base runner to reach to reach was on a fielder’s choice.

The Minnesota State recruit walked zero and struck out eight, including striking out the side in order early in the contest.

“Before the game I knew by her (Porter’s) demeanor that she wanted the ball and we weren’t going to lose this game,” Adams said. “She is a dog, and that’s what you want. Her teammates saw that and just fed off of it.”

With the victory Adams now has 799 wins in 25 seasons as the Dodger head coach. She is 852-353 in her career.

It was a feeling out process in the first two innings as the two clubs held each other scoreless.

The Dodgers scratched a run across in the third inning. Hope Alstott reached and Ellie Doster drove her in with an RBI-single for the first run of the ballgame.

Fort Dodge clung to the one-run lead for the next two innings until they added two insurance runs in the sixth.

Fort Dodge leaned on seniors Ashlyn Wills and Meah McCaleb for the cushion. Wills led the inning off with a double. McCaleb then drove her in with an RBI-single and made it all the way home after the Go-Hawks bobbled the ball around.

In the top-half of the sixth the Dodgers flashed leather. Doster sent the crowd to their feet on a diving catch at the plate on a foul ball. Ashlyn Wills had a diving play and flip to first at second, and Cadence Touney ranged to the line in the outfield.

“I think what got us through the game was staying calm and collected,” Porter said. “Our defense is always on their toes and constantly backing me up, so that allowed me to stay calm as well.

“Now we have our first postseason game nerves out and are ready for Tuesday.”

In the field Fort Dodge was solid all night, committing zero errors and having solid plays from Meah McCaleb at third on a hot-shot and a diving play in center from Teryn Rippentrop. Hope Alstott ranged to second and forced a runner out.

“Our defense was tremendous,” Adams said. “They just feed off each other.

“They wanted this game and they wanted to get that chance to be able to keep the streak alive.”

The Dodgers had nine hits in the contest. Maeleena Meyer had two hits. Alstott, Macy Wills, Doster, Wills, McCaleb, Cadence Touney and Porter all had hits.

FORT DODGE 3,

WAVERLY-SHELL ROCK 0

W-SR 000 000 0 — 0 2 1

Fort Dodge 001 002 x — 3 9 0

WP–Lucy Porter (7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO); 2B–FD: Ashlyn Wills; Multiple hits–FD: A. Wills (2); RBI–FD: Ellie Doster, Meah McCaleb.