The final softball rankings for Class 5A, 4A and 3A were released by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union on Thursday, and Fort Dodge held firm at No. 8 in 4A.

With the Dodgers remaining ranked in the Top-8, they have positioned themselves to be potential hosts throughout the upcoming regional tournament.

The No. 1 teams in all three classes stayed the same in Waukee Northwest (5A), Cedar Rapids Xavier (4A) and Dubuque Wahlert (3A).

Fort Dodge (26-12 overall) is set for action in Region 8, opening with either Waverly-Shell Rock (16-8) or Mason City (8-23) at Rogers Park Saturday night at 7 p.m.

On the other side of the bracket will be No. 9 Western Dubuque (29-11), as they play the winner between Charles City (16-14) and Decorah (15-14) this weekend.

The regional final is scheduled for Tuesday, with the Dodgers hosting if they win in the semifinals as the highest remaining ranked team.

Andi Adams prepared her squad throughout the summer by playing 20 games against currently ranked teams after making the state tournament last year. That includes Waukee Northwest, second-ranked (4A) Norwalk, No. 3 (4A) North Polk, fourth-rated Dallas Center-Grimes, No. 4 Ankeny Centennial (5A) and fifth-ranked (5A) West Des Moines Valley.

Fort Dodge has reached the final eight each of the past seven seasons.