-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Ellie Doster of Fort Dodge hit a two run homer against Wahlert

The state tournament run may have ended at seven last year, but this group of Fort Dodge softball players is looking for much more than the start of a new streak in 2026.

The Dodgers reached the state tournament seven straight seasons — from 2018-2024 — and 20 times overall before losing in the regional finals last summer.

Now ranked third in the state, FDSH (36-4 overall) — which ended the regular season as only the second team in school history to have a .900 win percentage — is looking for much more.

Winners of nine straight and 15 of their last 16, the Dodgers begin their trek back to state at home on Saturday.

The Dodgers will host the MOC-Floyd Valley (16-10) on Saturday at Rogers Park. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.

The Dutchmen beat Sioux Center 10-9 in their postseason opener on Thursday.

Fort Dodge has put on a clinic at the plate this season, and they have the numbers to support it.

The Dodgers lead 4A in batting average (.426), hits (413), total bases (619), they are second in home runs (31), triples (20), on base percentage (.505), (20),

Fort Dodge leads the state in RBI (357), and runs (412). The Dodgers have scored in double figures in 23 games and have outscored their opponents by double digits 16 times.

Junior Ellie Doster, who set Fort Dodge’s single season record for RBI with 69 is second in 4A. She is second in hits (65) and tied for first with 18 doubles. She is fourth in the class with 12 home runs and second in batting average (.596).

Doster is also third in 4A in total bases (123), OBP (.659), slugging percentage (1.128)

Sophomore Aubrey Alstott has 20 wins, which is third best in 4A. She has 40 career victories. She is second in starts (25) and third in appearances (29)

Junior Hope Alstott is tied for the state lead with nine triples and is third in 4A with 62 runs scored. Alstott leads 4A in hit by pitches with 10.

Senior Teryn Rippentrop is second in 4A with 54 singles and fourth in hits with 60.

Sophomore Grace Nichols is second on the team in home runs with nine and second in RBI with 49. Other RBI leaders are Alstott (42), freshman Macy Wills (38), Rippentrop (36), Calliegh Zimmermann (31) and Emersynn Lara (26).

Five starters are batting over .400 with Doster, including Wills (.490), Nichols (.488), Rippentrop (.472) and Alstott (.422).

The Dodgers have stolen 123 bases, led by Rippentrop (23), Alstott (22) and Maeleena Meyer (20).

Alstott carries a 1.99 ERA in 119.2 innings of work with 84 strikeouts.

Sophomore Sydney Carver is 14-2 with 43 Ks and a 2.67 ERA.

The Dutchmen are led at the plate by Brooklyn Byl, who is hitting .487 with two home runs and 16 RBI. The RBI leaders for MOC-Floyd Valley are Keira Budden (21), Allison heller (21) and Alyson Leusink (19).

Leusink has thrown 89 innings with eight wins. She has 84 strikeouts.