Class 4A field loaded with talent, tradition
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It didn't take the Fort Dodge softball team long to get back to the state tournament after a one-year hiatus.
The third-rated and third-seeded Dodgers (38-4 overall) are back after missing 2025 and seeing a streak of seven straight trips come to an end.
The Dodgers meet Clear Creek-Amana (31-11) on Monday at 5:15 p.m. in a 4A state quarterfinal matchup. The contest is on Channel Seeds Field, which is Diamond 1.
The numbers are impressive as the Dodgers have topped not just Class 4A, but the entire state in a number of offensive categories. Fort Dodge ranks first as a team in RBI, runs, hits, total bases, slugging and OPS.
Junior Ellie Doster is one of the top performers in the state, ripping 13 home runs and setting an FDSH single-season record with 74 RBI. Doster is batting .602.
The Dodgers have hit a school-record 34 homers as a team, led by Doster and sophomore Grace Nichols (eight), who is batting .500 herself with 53 RBI.
Hope Alstott (44), Macy Wills (43), Teryn Rippentrop (38) and Calliegh Zimmermann (34) have also been big producers in runs driven in.
The Clippers are led by power hitter Kyla Schulte, who has 23 home runs and has driven in 74 runs. The DMACC recruit is batting .509.
Eighth-grade pitcher Kynlee McElvain has compiled a 14-4 record, striking out 120 batters with a 1.65 ERA.
ADM (33-4) has earned the top seed and will face Burlington (26-6) on Monday at 10:30 a.m. The Tigers are led in the circle and at the plate by senior Lauren Hagedorn. The Iowa State University recruit is 17-4 with 143 strikeouts and a 0.90 ERA.
At the plate, Hagedorn has 13 homers and 31 RBI. KInzie Maxwell has driven in 36 runs.
Eighth-seeded Burlington is paced by Kylee Hill, who has driven in 33 runs. Hill has also earned 14 wins in the circle with 150 strikeouts and a 1.54 ERA.
Fourth-seeded Western Dubuque (32-8) will face No. 5 Winterset on Monday at 12:45 p.m.
Kyla Ramler is the leading hitter for Western Dubuque, with eight home runs and 32 RBI. Ace pitcher Lauren Vaske is 17-3 with 155 strikeouts and a 1.24 ERA.
Winterset has 19 home runs as a squad. Eighth-grader Danica Ferber has driven in 35. Ferber has also earned 14 wins with 105 strikeouts from the circle.
Second-seeded Carlisle (33-5) will square off with No. 7 North Polk (20-16). Action will begin at 3 p.m.
Carlisle has driven in 261 runs as a squad, led by Ella Smith (44) and Alyvia Freeman (41). Mallie Stoner (20-4) is the pitching leader for Carlisle, as is Estella Bowman at 12-1. Stoner has fanned 121 batters with a 1.21 ERA.
North Polk is led by Audrey Lucas, who has driven in 41. Alexanadra Mohlke has 36 RBI.
Mallory Byrd is 17-10 with 53 strikeouts to lead the Comets.