Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: The Fort Dodge softball squad celebrates its Class 4A regional championship on Tuesday at Rogers Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Determined.

Tenacious.

Hungry.

Those were words Fort Dodge head coach Andi Adams used to describe her third-ranked (Class 4A) Dodger softball squad.

On paper, the final step for a return trip to the state tournament was supposed to be relatively close.

Someone just forgot to tell the Dodgers.

Spearheaded by sophomore pitcher Aubrey Alstott’s no-hitter, the Dodgers cruised to a 13-0 victory over Sioux City Heelan in four innings for a Class 4A regional championship on Tuesday at Rogers Park.

“This team is driven,” said FDSH head coach Andi Adams, who is now ninth all-time for most state appearances as a coach and has the most of any female. “There are so many words to use for them. They’re so hungry and just focused on the task at hand.

“These girls want to continue the Dodger legacy, and they have the grit to do it.”

Looking to reclaim a spot at the state tournament that eluded them last season after seven straight trips, the Dodgers (38-4 overall) left no doubt in a ranked contest with the No. 11 Crusaders (32-9).

“At the beginning of the season I was hoping we would just get back to a regional final,” Adams said. “We had to switch some positions and ideas and had players really step up.

“But the hoping turned to reality in a hurry. These girls have earned it and worked hard for everything they’ve gotten.”

This will be the 21st state trip all-time for the Dodgers, and the 17th for Adams at FDSH.

“Missing out last year weighed on our minds a lot,” said senior Teryn Rippentrop, who is going on to play at Indian Hills. “People hear about all the work we put in, but we’ve done even more behind closed doors that no one sees.

“For me, I focused a lot on mental stuff…just trying to get better. It means so much to be going back in my final year.”

The Dodgers will open state tournament play on Monday against No. 6 Clear Creek-Amana (30-11) at 5:15 p.m. on Channel Seeds Field, Diamond 1.

“We are ranked third in the state, but the kids still see themselves as underdogs,” Adams said. “I love that. If that’s what they feel, keep using it.”

Three days after throwing a four-inning perfect game in her first postseason start, Alstott fired a no-hitter against Heelan, facing the minimum batters again.

“Aubrey is just on fire,” Adams said. “She has developed into a strong pitcher who wants the ball.”

It’s Alstott’s second no-hitter of the season to go along with the perfect game.

“It means so much to be going back,” said Alstott. “We are together as a team, cheering each other on and supporting each other.

“We’ve built a bond.”

Alstott walked the first batter of the game, then set the next 11 down in order with three strikeouts. The sophomore has now gone 11.2 straight innings without giving up a hit.

“My pitches have been working well,” Alstott said. “My curveball is there and I’ve been able to mix things in.”

It was another quick start for the Dodgers, who scored five and seven runs in the first two innings combined on 11 hits — and four for extra bases.

Junior catcher Ellie Doster had the early blow on Tuesday with a three-run homer, giving her 13 long balls this year — one shy of the single-season record held by Loghen Schnetzer. With two hits on the night and three RBI, Doster upped her single season program RBI record to 74.

“It feels great to be going back,” Doster said. “We had a good team last year, but we weren’t able to get there. It motivated us (the regional final loss in 2025).”

Freshman Macy Wills hit a ball over the right fielder’s head after she misplayed the ball. Wills sprinted around the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

Aubrey Alstott also had an RBI single. Hope Alstott added a two-run double, scoring Meg Marsh and Emersyn Lara.

Alstott helped her own cause by going 3-for-3 with two RBI. Hope Alstott was 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBI.

Nichols had two hits. Wills drove in three runs. Marsh also had an RBI.

The Dodgers did their damage on the bases as well, swiping five bags — including three in the first inning.

Heelan had won 14 of 15 before Tuesday.

FORT DODGE 13, BISHOP HEELAN 0 (4 inn.)

Bishop Heelan 000 0 — 0 0 1

Fort Dodge 571 x — 13 11 0

WP–Aubrey Alstott (22-1, 4 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 SO, 1 BB); 2B–FD: Ellie Doster, Hope Alstott; HR–FD: Macy Wills, Doster; HBP–FD: Calliegh Zimmermann; SF–FD: Wills; SB–FD: Hope Alstott (2), Meg Marsh, Maeleena Meyer, Rylee O’Brion; RBI–FD: Doster (3), Wills (3), Hope Alstott (2), Aubrey Alstott (2), Teryn Rippentrop (1), Marsh (1).