For the eighth consecutive season, the Fort Dodge softball squad is ready to put everything on the line in a regional final assignment at Rogers Park.

The eighth-ranked (Class 4A) Dodgers (27-12 overall) take on No. 9 Western Dubuque (30-11) on Tuesday night for a berth in next week’s state tournament.

First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at Rogers Park.

Head coach Andi Adams’ team has punched seven straight state tickets — a program record. The Dodgers reached this point with a 3-0 victory over Waverly-Shell Rock in a regional semifinal on Saturday behind the pitching of senior Lucy Porter and stellar defense behind her.

Now Fort Dodge faces the talented Bobcats, who make the three-plus hour trip west for a rematch of a 4A state consolation contest of a year ago. The Dodgers prevailed in that game, 7-6, and many of the key players from both sides are back for the pivotal rematch.

Western Dubuque and FDSH both returned all but two starters in 2025 from a year ago.

Freshman Lauren Vaske (15-4 record, 1.28 earned run average) and senior Morgan Hosch (11-5, 2.67) have been the main Bobcat pitchers this summer. Sophomore Kyla Ramler (.390 batting average, 9 home runs, 37 RBI) has been the main bat, with senior Kaitlyn Thole (.403, 3 HRs, 37 RBI), junior Melanie Runde (.410, 2, 20) and junior Carly Vogel (.376) all putting up strong numbers as well for the balanced WD attack.

The Bobcats had won 10 in a row leading up to a season-ending twinbill against No. 2 (5A) Marion Linn-Mar, but they were swept, which may have wound up being the difference between this tilt being in Fort Dodge compared to Dubuque.

Porter is 18-6 with a 2.76 earned run average, and currently ranks fourth for wins and third in strikeouts all-time at FDSH. Sophomore Ellie Doster is hitting .432 with 39 RBI. Senior Meah McCaleb has driven in 34, and senior Cadence Touney 30.

Sophomore Hope Alstott is hitting .440 and has scored 58 times with 45 stolen bases. Senior Ashlyn Wills (.356, 21 SB) has been another catalyst.