Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: North Polk players celebrate their come-from-behind win over Western Dubuque on Monday at Rogers Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Tessa Dillinger has grown up around the game of softball.

On Monday at the state tournament, Dillinger got her moment to shine.

The North Polk junior, who is the granddaughter of legendary coach Rick Dillinger, plated the game-winning run in the ninth to defeat Western Dubuque at Rogers Park, 8-7.

Up next for the Comets (35-5 overall) will be North Scott (30-11), who upset Norwalk in another quarterfinal, 7-1. That game is set for Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. on Channel Seeds Field.

Dillinger drove home Lucy Lucas with one out, capping a wild comeback that saw North Polk erase a 7-3 deficit with a four-run seventh.

“We do a hero drill in practice where you have to hit with a runner on third,” Dillinger said. “I was up there just remembering that. (Being in that situation) is something I have been dreaming about and it was just big, big, big (to advance).

“We have been here three years now, and we just kept telling everybody that we’re not done yet and we are going to keep fighting until the end.”

As for the actual winning run scoring the plate, Dillinger admits she doesn’t recall the moment.

“Honestly, I kind of wenk blank,” she said. “What an insane way to win a state tournament game.”

North Polk rallied in the seventh, as senior Larissa Koth delivered a double with the bases loaded to tie things at 7-all. Lucas and Koth each finished with two hits while Lucas and Amelia Kelsick both scored twice.

For Western Dubuque (31-12), they will now face Norwalk on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. on Dodger Field in a consolation game. The Bobcats had advanced to state with a win over Fort Dodge in the regional final.

Racquel Fern was 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored while Evelynn Koopmann had two hits and scored twice.

NORTH POLK 8, WESTERN DUBUQUE 7 (9 inn.)

Western Dubuque 002 200 300 — 7 13 2

North Polk 000 030 401 — 8 9 5

WP–Ava Husak (9 IP, 13 H, 5 ER, 1 K, 1 BB). LP–Lauren Vaske (7 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 6 K, 5 BB).

2B–WD: Lauren Ervolino, Evelynn Koopman (2); NP: Katelyn Klever, Larissa Koth.

RBI–WD: Melanie Runde, Racquel Fern, Kaitlyn Thole, Kaitlyn Ramler, Lauren Evolino; NP: Ava Husak, Lucy Lucas, Larissa Koth (3), Tessa Dillinger (2). SB–WD: Racquel Fern.