There may be a target on the Waukee Northwest softball team’s back, but they wear it with pride.

The top-ranked Wolves (38-5 overall) rode the arm of freshman Sophia Schlader in a match-up against eighth-seed and CIML counterpart West Des Moines Dowling (15-19) in a Class 5A quarterfinal on Monday.

Northwest advanced to the semis with a 4-0 victory, and will now face fourth-seed Ankeny Centennial (33-9) on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. on Iowa Central Field. The Jaguars blanked West Des Moines Valley 9-0.

Schlader (27-1), who got a taste of state last season as an eighth-grader, was ready. She was fired up after nearly every pitch and every out, as her teammates were ready to roll from the first pitch forward.

“We came in here with a target on our back, and we’ve had it all season long,” Schlader said. “I love that…it motivates me.”

The freshman hurler set a Class 5A record with 15 strikeouts in the contest. She bested a state mark set by former Dowling all-stater Claudia Farrell.

“We were confident,” Schlader said. “Our mentality is to work as a team. I love all of my teammates.”

The state record wasn’t even the tops for Schlader this year. The phenom fanned 17 batters against Urbandale during the regular season.

Schlader now has 12 double-digit strikeout games in 2025. She allowed only four hits.

“I’m crazy proud of our team,” Schlader said. “I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone else.

“We are working hard to do our best, and we trust each other.”

The Wolves had a big night at the plate, pounding out 11 hits. Northwest scored two runs in the third and sixth frames.

Aunya Van Zetten, Leela Appledorn and Shay Davis had two hits each. Davis, the No. 9 hitter, connected for a solo home run in the third.Van Zetten and Meredith Thomsen both recorded doubles.

Davis had two RBI, while Laurel Richards and Hazel Leinen both drove in runs.

With their fourth victory over the Maroons this season, the Wolves are 11-2 against the rest of the Class 5A field.

For Dowling, leadoff hitter Abby Johnson had two hits. Kylie Matejski and Kayee Winter had the other hits.

The Maroons will now face rivals Valley (29-12) on Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. on Yankee Field in a 5A consolation matchup.

WAUKEE NORTHWEST 4, DOWLING 0

Dowling 000 000 0 — 0 4 0

Waukee NW 002 002 x — 4 11 0

WP–Sophia Schlader (27-1, 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 15 SO).

LOB–Dowling 8, Waukee Northwest 7; 2B–WNW: Aunya Van Zetten, Meredith Thomsen; HR–WNW: Shay Davis; SB–Abby Johnson; Multiple hits–D: Abby Johnson (2); WNW: Van Zetten (2), Leela Appledorn (2), Shay Davis (2); RBI–WNW: Davis (2), Laurel Richards, Hazel Leinen.