GRIT AND GRIND
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After competition, there is always a lesson to learn.
It can be tough, it can be easy, but it's also necessary to fix mistakes and achieve goals.
On Saturday during the Fort Dodge Invitational, the young third-ranked Dodgers (Class 4A) showed there is no quit in their dugout.
The Dodgers (22-3 overall) suffered an 11-1 setback in four innings against second-ranked (5A) powerhouse Ankeny Centennial (25-1), who went on to win the championship.
What came next showed head coach Andi Adams exactly what her young club is made of.
Fort Dodge bounced back with a 7-3 victory over top-ranked and defending 3A state champion Williamsburg (21-3) in the tournament’s third-place matchup.
"We talked about not letting it linger," Adams said. "Losses mean nothing. Learning from losses means everything."
The Jaguars boast a lineup with seven seniors and eight players who will play college softball – seven at the Div. I level.
Centennial all-stater and University Minnesota commit Jordyn Kennedy, who is chasing Iowa’s career home run record, homered once versus the Dodgers. The Jaguars did take advantage of some FDSH miscues.
Centennial scored seven earned runs of their 11 total, and five came with two outs on nine hits during the contest.
"In a game like that, the ball has the tendency to find youth," Adams said. "It was a lot for us to face such a senior-dominated lineup that is going to be playing college softball.
"They were ready and excited for the matchup."
Mady Ott, who will play at Drake, added a two-run home run. The Jaguars roped four doubles.
The Dodgers’ lone run of the contest came on a Macy Wills bunt that plated Hope Alstott.
Calliegh Zimmermann had two hits. Ellie Doster extended her hit streak to 24 straight, which then ended in the win over Williamsburg.
Fort Dodge went through a gauntlet of ranked opponents in the field, beating No. 1 Clarksville (1A), No. 1 Williamsburg (3A) and No. 2 Dubuque Wahlert (2A). The loss to No. 2 Centennial, ended its 15-game win streak.
The Dodgers played with a chip on their shoulder in the third-place contest, as the loss didn't sit will with the players.
"When we faced Williamsburg, I wanted to make sure it was over (thoughts of the first game)," Adams said. "I think they were just mad that they didn't put forth their best effort against Centennial and knew they could have played better.
"We had to take ownership and learn from it."
The Dodgers pounded out 10 hits and scored in all but the first inning in the five-inning contest against the Raiders. Aubrey Alstott (12-0) did it in the circle and at the plate for the Dodgers. Alstott threw all five innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs with two strikeouts and one walk.
At the plate, Alstott was 3-for-3 with an RBI.
Indian Hills commit Teryn Rippentrop had two hits, including a double, and drove in a run.
Grace Nichols had a solo home run – her third of the season. Hope Alstott contributed a double. Doster, Zimmermann and Emersyn Lara all drove in runs.
The Dodgers are back in action on Monday when they host Mason City in a doubleheader at Rogers Park. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. The Dodgers have won 32 consecutive games against the Riverhawks.
ANKENY CENTENNIAL 11, FORT DODGE 1
Fort Dodge 001 0 -- 1 5 2
Ankeny Centennial 422 3 -- 11 9 0
WP--Peyten Spiegel (4IP, 5H, 1 ER, 0SO, 0BB); 2B--FD: Hope Alstott; AC: Mliey Hatfield, Lauren Bartine, Mady Ott, Jordyn Kennedy; HR--AC: Mady Ott; SB--AC: Lauren Sandholm; RBI--FD: Macy Wills; AC: Mady Ott (5), Hatfield (2), Kori Lincicum, Bartine, Sandholm.
FORT DODGE 7, WILLIAMSBURG 3
Fort Dodge 012 22 --7 10 0
Williamsburg 100 20--3 5 3
WP--Aubrey Alstott (12-0, 5IP, 5H, 3 ER, 2SO, 1B); 2B--FD: Teryn Rippentrop, Hope Alstott; HR--FD: Grace Nichols; W: Taylor Sanchez, Maddie Gorsh; RBI--FD: Rippentrop, Ellie Doster, Calliegh ZImmermann, Nichols, Aubrey Alstott, Emmersyn Lara; W: Gorsh (2), Sanchez; SB--FD: Hope Alstott.
FORT DODGE INVITATIONAL SCOREBOARD
Friday's Results
Ankeny Centennial 13, Martensdale St. Marys 0
North Polk 1, Des Moines Roosvelt 0
Dubuque Wahlert 10, Mid-Prairie 0
Fort Dodge 6, Clarksville 1
Cedar Rapids Kennedy 13, Newell-Fonda 0
Atlantic 8, Clear Creak-Amana 0
Winterset 10, Ames 8
Quarterfinals
Ankeny Centennial 8, North Polk 6
Fort Dodge 6, Wahlert 3
CR Kennedy 1, Atlantic 1
Williamsburg 9, Winterset 1
Consolation Bracket
DM Roosevelt 8, Martensdale St. Marys 0
Clarksville 7, Mid-Prairie 4
Clear Creek-Amana 12, Newell-Fonda 1
Ames 10, Ankeny 2
Saturday's Results
Second Round Consolations
Roosevelt 6, Clarksville 3
Clear Creek-Amana 7, Ames 1
Martensdale St. Marys 6, Mid-Prairie 3
Ankeny 9, Newell-Fonda 8
Semifinals
Ankeny Centennial 11, Fort Dodge 1
CR Kennedy 5, Williamsburg 2
Championship
Ankeny Centennial 9, CR Kennedy 3
Third Place
Fort Dodge 7, Williamsburg 3
Fifth Place
Wahlert 7, Winterset 3
Seventh Place
North Polk 4, Atlantic 3
Ninth Place
Roosevelt 3, Clear Creek-Amana 2
11th Place
Ames 9, Clarksville 0
13th Place
Ankeny 10, Martensdale St. Marys 4
15th Place
Mid-Prairie 4, Newell-Fonda 2