-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Lucy Porter of Fort Dodge dives for a grounder against Western Dubuque

A strong season on the diamond garnered postseason honors for three Fort Dodge softball players.

Sophomores Hope Alstott, Ellie Doster and senior Lucy Porter all earned Iowa Girls Coaches Association All-State honors.

For the third time in her career Alstott was on the first team. For the second straight year Doster was on the first team.

Porter finished her career with her third straight second team All-State selection.

“These girls helped us tremendously this year,” said Fort Dodge head coach Andi Adams, who has won 799 games as Fort Dodge’s coach. “With the schedule we play, we beat some highly ranked teams and beat all the teams we should.

“Not making the state tournament will make these girls work even harder.”

This was the seventh straight season the Dodgers earned a first team pick.

Porter finished her brilliant career with a record of 85-31. She struck out 621 batters for the Dodgers.

At the plate, Porter had 128 hits and drove in 101 runs.

“If you think about it, Lucy really came along ways since her eighth grade year,” Adams said. “She wanted the pressure and wanted to pitch in pressure games.

“She takes great pride in wanting the ball in tough situations.”

This past season she compiled an 18-7 mark with 2.72 ERA and 135 strikeouts. Porter will take her talents to Minnesota State.

“Minnesota State is getting a great pitcher,” Adams said. “She is a hard worker and helped lead this team when she was in the circle or at the plate.”

Alstott was a huge threat atop the Dodger lineup. She was second in Class 4A with 45 stolen bases and fifth in runs with 59. She clubbed four home runs and drove in 18 with a .432 batting average.

“I know she (Alstott) wasn’t satisfied with her power numbers, but she is very consistent and gets on base,” Adams said. “But she definitely was playing her best ball at the end of the year.

“She puts the bat on the ball and doesn’t strike out very often.”

In her three years as a Dodger, she has scored 162 runs with 151 hits, six home runs, 76 RBI and 100 stolen bases.

Doster was a big threat for the Dodgers at and behind the plate.

“Ellie knows she just has to tweak a few things,” Adams said. “She has goals and dreams to play at the next level.

“She takes command when she is behind the plate.”

In the box this past season she had 48 hits, three home runs and drove in 40 runs. She hit .430 and led the team in RBI and hits.

Behind the dish she only allowed 22 stolen bases.

In her career she has 133 hits and 100 RBI with five longballs.

“She really called a lot of our games,” Adams said. “If she saw something in the field or behind the plate, we gave her the free will to call something.”