Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Senior Royce Pederson slides safely into second base earlier this season for Fort Dodge.

Royce Pederson’s sense of urgency has never been higher as he hits the home stretch of his Fort Dodge athletic career.

The preparation for Pederson’s successful senior season, though, happened long ago and in the dark.

Pederson insists it’s no coincidence that the Dodgers have the most wins for the program since 2013, and that his batting average has jumped over 200 points from a year ago. An offseason filled with hard work and determination has led to this point, with Fort Dodge opening Class 4A substate play at home on Friday against arch rival Mason City.

“Our motto for the year has been ‘All In,’ and everyone has really embraced that mentality,” said Pederson, a four-year baseball letterwinner. “I think we knew that in order to be successful, we needed to put in the time and accept our own (individual) roles and our jobs for the good of the team.

“We’ve done that so far, and it’s still a big focus headed into the postseason. Before the year, we talked to (the coaching staff) and among the seniors about what we can do to help the team reach its potential (in 2025).”

That approach has paid dividends. The Dodgers are 26-13 overall and winners in eight of their last 11 games heading into the quarterfinal round against the Riverhawks (24-12). Pederson has been a run-producing machine, leading all of 4A with 55 RBI — the most by any FDSH baseball player since Andy Josephson (67) in 1996.

Pederson, also a second team all-district football selection for a Dodger squad that went 7-3 last fall and shared the league title, is the first Fort Dodge batter since Sam Kolacia in 2016 to reach 50 hits in a single season. His current .431 average is the program’s best in the last decade as well (Austin Halligan hit .448 in 2015).

Not bad for someone who had cumulatively hit .222 before this summer.

“When it came to (an offseason gameplan), I wanted to be the ‘example’ guy,” Pederson said. “That’s kind of how I took on my leadership responsibility as a senior. It was all about getting bigger, stronger and more confident, to the point where my teammates could see the work I was putting in and say, ‘I want to follow him and match that.’

“I think (the changes) have been both physical and mental. I feel a lot better because of the work I put in with (FDSH strength and conditioning coach) Brock Adams, who has done an amazing job. But also, the time in the cages with my dad (former Dodger all-stater and ex-Iowa Central baseball coach Rick Pederson). It’s kind of all come together, and once I started seeing the ball jump off my bat the way it has, I was able to build from that.”

Fort Dodge and Mason City know each other well, with the Dodgers taking three of four in the regular season. The Riverhawks are 11-3 since getting swept at home by FDSH on June 23.

“We’ll treat (Friday at McNeil Field) like any other game,” Pederson said. “You don’t want to lose your feel or get out of your routine too much as far as what got you to this point.

“We had a good practice (on Thursday) and we’re just looking forward to the opportunity. We’re ready to go.”

Pederson will attend Iowa Central Community College and join head coach Eric Stein’s baseball program this fall.

TIMEOUT WITH ROYCE PEDERSON

Vacation destination: Cooperstown.

People I would like to have dinner with: Bobby Witt Jr., Tom Brady, LeBron James.

My sports role model: my dad Rick.

My everyday role model: my parents and my coaches.

Nickname: RP.

Most heated rivalry: Mason City or Ames.

Favorite road trip: Des Moines Roosevelt.

What are you listening to right now? Morgan Wallen.

Favorites…

Team: Kansas City Royals.

Athlete: Jac Caglianone.

Class: Statistics.

Movie: Space Jam.

Binge watch: The Last Dance.

Book: All American Boys.

Phone app: TikTok.