Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Fort Dodge senior Ashlyn Wills (4) hugs her younger sister, Macy, after Tuesday’s Class 4A regional final loss to Western Dubuque at Rogers Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

It’s going to sting for a while, but the Fort Dodge senior class left a lasting mark on the softball program that will never be taken away.

The eighth-ranked Dodgers (27-13 overall) lost to No. 9 Western Dubuque (31-11) by a final of 4-1 in a Class 4A region 8 final at Rogers Park on Tuesday.

“It’s tough losing on your home field to go to state. It’s gut wrenching,” said Andi Adams, who has 799 wins as FDSH’s head coach. “It’s something that these girls haven’t had to deal with before.”

The loss ended the Dodgers’ streak of seven consecutive state tournament appearances.

Fort Dodge’s quintet of Minnesota State softball recruit Lucy Porter, Iowa Central volleyball recruit Meah McCaleb, Iowa Central softball recruit Cadence Touney, Ashlyn Wills and Katie Mason played their last game as Dodgers, ending a spectacular five-year run.

“I think this was Ashlyn’s best year yet,” Adams said. “She comes out of every game covered in dirt and does all the things she needs to.

“Meah has made some of the best and toughest plays I’ve seen and you saw three or four more on Tuesday. She just wants the ball.”

Porter and Wills were part of the state championship squad in 2021. The group was on a state runner-up squad (2022), semifinal team (2023) and state qualifier in 2024.

“Cadence has always wanted to take that next step,” Adams said. “She is always the first one there and the last one to leave.

“Katie did her part in the circle. She’s had some great moments for us, too.”

In their five years of eligibility, the seniors won 165 games.

“I truly felt that we could win this game,” Adams said. “They are a good squad, but so are we. We needed to have a lot go our way, and we didn’t have that.

“We struggled at the plate and couldn’t get the timely hits we needed. Sometimes in softball, the ball doesn’t bounce your way.”

On Tuesday, Fort Dodge couldn’t find any momentum against junior pitcher Lauren Vaske. Vaske entered the contest with a 1.28 ERA and 161 strikeouts.

“We did everything we could,” Adams said. “She (Vaske) had great movement and she threw a great rise ball.”

Vaske held the Dodgers, who came in 10th for team hitting at .354, to only three hits. She struck out six.

Only six Dodgers reached base and other than the only run they scored in the third, just two runners reached second base.

The Bobcats got off to a quick start, plating two runs in the opening frame. Lenaie Runde started the frame with a double and scored on a Kaityn Thole RBI single. Thole then scored on an FDSH error.

In the sixth, Lauren Ervolino plated Hannah Hoefer with a double. Thole had another RBI with a single to score Racquel Fern.

“They hit the ball hard,” Adams said. “Rex (Massey, Western Dubuque head coach) is a great coach. He reminds me a lot of (Tom) Bakey (from West Des Moines Valley).”

Fort Dodge had a solid threat in the first inning, as Hope Alstott reached on a hit by pitch and Macy Wills singled to put runners at first and second with nobody out.

Vaske then got three straight outs to end the threat.

Fort Dodge’s lone run came in the third inning, as Alstott reached on a single and was sacrificed to second by Wills. Alstott then scored on an RBI-single from Ellie Doster.

Porter, who finished with 85 career victories in the circle, had six strikeouts.

“When we were struggling with our second pitcher in 2021, I asked our coaches who we had and Lucy wasn’t even really on our radar. Look at her now,” Adams said. “Lucy is a person who wants the ball. She has great hunger for this sport.

“She’s meant a lot to this program.”

The Dodgers are slated to return six starters next season with a solid group of underclassmen ready for their chance.

“We have a lot of young players coming back,” Adams said. “We are excited to see what they can do.

“This group returning is starving for knowledge. We have 30-plus girls, and that’s what you want. We have a great coaching staff that I want to thank for everything that they put into the program.”

WESTERN DUBUQUE 4, FORT DODGE 1

Western Dubuque 200 001 1 — 4 9 0

Fort Dodge 001 000 0 — 1 3 1

WP–Lauren Vaske (16-4, 7 IP, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO); LP–Lucy Porter (18-7), 7 IP, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO); 2B–WD: Melanie Runde, Lauren Ervolino, Morgan Hosch; Multiple hits– WD: Runde (2), Kaitlyn Thole (2), Morgan Hosch (2); RBI–WD: Thole (2), Ervolino; FD: Ellie Doster; SB–WD: Racquel Fern; FD: Ashlyn Wills; HBP–WD: Hosch (by Porter); FD: Hope Alstott (by Vaske), Meah McCaleb (by Vaske).