WAUKEE — This has been a special season for the third-ranked Fort Dodge softball team and it’s turning into a historic one as well.

The Dodgers (36-4 overall) capped off the regular season with their 36th victory, guaranteeing them at least a .900 win percentage, second only to the 2021 state championship team.

The final game of the season for Class 4A Fort Dodge came in a rout over No. 8 (5A) Waukee (18-18), 12-2 in five innings on Tuesday night.

“They just put their heads down and play,” said Fort Dodge head coach Andi Adams. We rattled them right away and Aubrey (Alstott) pitched a great game.”

The Dodgers will enter the postseason on Saturday riding a nine game winning streak. This is the fifth victory in the last six meetings with the Warriors, and second consecutive.

For the 23rd time this season, the Dodgers who lead the state in runs, scored in double figures. It is the 16th contest they’ve won by double figures.

“I told them the state about the win percentage and they were shocked. They have worked so hard and they expect to win,” Adams said. “These girls want to play and they want to practice.

“The work they’ve put in has separated them from the pack.”

The Dodgers, who had 11 hits on the night, put the pressure on early with a four-run first inning and took a 6-2 lead after three. Fort Dodge closed the door with a six-run fifth inning.

Hope Alstott capped the fifth with a three-run home run, her third of the season.

Catcher Ellie Doster had another monster game, going 3-for-3 with an RBI. She extends her single-season school record to 69.

Teryn Rippentrop and pitcher Aubrey Alstott both had two hits with Rippentrop driving in a run. Macy Wills drove in two runs and Grace Nichols also had an RBI.

Aubrey Alstott (20-1) earned the win, allowing only three hits with one strikeout. It was her 40th (40-9) career victory as a Dodger.

“This team is different,” Adams said. “There isn’t a super star. They all can hit and they all can play. If someone is not hitting or struggling they pick each other up.

“They are friends and they get along so well on and off the diamond.”

Fort Dodge will face the winner of Sioux Center and MOC-Floyd Valley on Saturday at Rogers Park. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.

FORT DODGE 12, WAUKEE 2

Fort Dodge 402 06 — 12 11 0

Waukee 020 00 — 2 3 3

WP–Aubrey Alstott (20-1, 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 SO, 0 BB); 2B–FD: Ellie Doster; HR–FD: Hope Alstott; Waukee: Jett Lunde; HBP–FD: Hope Alstott; SB–FD: Teryn Rippentrop (2), Ememrsyn Lara, Hope Alstott, Brooklyn Gilliland; CS–FD: Rippentrop; RBI–FD: Hope Alstott (3), Macy Wills (2), Rippentrop, Doster, Grace Nichols; Waukee: Lunde (2).