Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Newell-Fonda celebrates after beating Highland during the Class 1A consolation round on Wednesday at Rogers Park in Fort Dodge.

Newell-Fonda made the most of its 15th trip to the state tournament.

The fifth-seed Mustangs (25-12 overall) lost their opening round contest to Riverside, but bounced back with a 7-6 win over Highland (17-11) in a consolation game on Wednesday at Rogers Park.

The Mustangs are familiar with the state atmosphere, as they were a basketball state qualifier and 12 of those girls are on the diamond.

Newell-Fonda had a solid season, winning the Twin Lakes Conference title for seven straight years.

In Wednesday’s consolation contest, the Mustangs jumped out early with five runs in the second inning. The Huskies put together a threat with three runs in the sixth.

Newell-Fonda had nine hits in the contest. Rylee Hogrefe, Anna Mercer and McKayla Hanson had two hits each.

Jocee Walsh had a double. The Mustangs stole five bases.

Hinders and Hogrefe drove in two runs each. Mercer, Walsh and Camryn Puhrmann also drove in runs.

For Highland, Maiya Singbeil had three hits and scored two runs. She also stole two bases. Adisyn Prottsman and Kayce Schnoebelen also had hits.

Kamryn Fink, Kinzie Reuss, Ava Sexton and Schnoebelen drove in runs.

Anna Mercer went six-plus innings in the circle for the Mustangs, giving up five hits. She allowed four runs, one of which was earned. Mercer struck out four batters.

NEWELL-FONDA 7, HIGHLAND 6

Highland 000 021 3 — 6 5 2

Newell-Fonda 051 010 x — 7 9 5

WP–Anna Mercer (6-plus IP, 5 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO); LP–Jillian Stransky (3 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO).

LOB–Highland 9, Newell-Fonda 5. 2B–NF: Jocee Walsh; SACF–NF: Camryn Puhrmann; SAC–H: Adisyn Prottsman; NF: Ellie Sievers; SB–H: Lilly Barre, Maiya Singbeil (2), Kamryn Fink (2); NF: Rylee Hogrefe (2), Anna Mercer, Kinzee Hinders (2).

Multiple hits–H: Singbeil (3); NF: Rylee Hogrefe (2), Anna Mercer (2), McKayla Hanson (2); RBI–H: Fink, Kinzie Reuss, Ava Sexton, Kaycee Schnoebelen; NF: Hinders (2), Hogrefe (2), Mercer, Walsh, Camryn Puhrmann.