For the third consecutive summer, Van Meter is headed to the Class 2A state softball championship game.

The Bulldogs, who claimed the title last year, earned a walk-off 5-4 win over West Fork in the semifinals here Wednesday at Rogers Park. Up next for Van Meter (33-2 overall) will be West Lyon in the finals on Friday at 5 p.m. on Channel Seeds Field.

Senior Ava Hohenadel drove in Mady Schnell to set off a wild celebration at home plate. Hohenadel had two hits, including a home run, and drove in a pair while Schnell scored twice and swiped two bags.

“We are a gritty team,” Schnell said. “We always do it for each other. We feel like if a team does something on us, we are going to try our hardest to get back on them.”

Down early, the Bulldogs battled back, tying the game in the second before taking the lead in the third. They went up 4-2 before the Warhawks (23-7) scored twice in the top of the fourth.

Things remained that way until the seventh when Hohenadel delivered. Aniston Netten earned the win, striking out eight in relief.

West Fork, making its second-ever appearance at state, will look to secure third place when they take on Louisa-Muscatine at 6 p.m. Friday on back at Iowa Central Field.

Brylee Dickman led the Warhawks with a two-run homer while Libby Trewin struck out six batters.

VAN METER 5, WEST FORK 4

West Fork 200 200 0 — 4 4 4

Van Meter 112 000 1 — 5 8 0

WP–Aniston Netten (6-plus IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 8 K, 1 BB). LP–Libby Trewin (6 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 6 K, 1 BB).

HR–WF: Brylee Dickman; VM: Ava Hohenadel. 2B–VM: Finley Netten. RBI–WF: Libby Trewin, Brooke Rother, Brylee Dickman; VM: Mady Schnell, Ava Hohenadel (2), Alice Ruggles. SB–WF: JoAnna Wallace, Keara Wood; VM: Bianca Prickett, Mady Schnell (2), Finley Netten, Halle Karaidos.