The veteran leader of the third-ranked (Class 4A) Dodgers knows that what she saw here Friday night, though, will be a valuable lesson as the season progresses.

Fort Dodge was handed its first defeat of the season at Rogers Park, falling to No. 3 (5A) West Des Moines Valley by a final of 13-4.

The Tigers (2-0 overall) scored in five innings, hit two home runs and had five other extra-base hits versus the Dodgers (2-1), who had won two straight and six of the last nine meetings in the rivalry overall.

“We are going to learn and fix things moving forward,” Adams said. “That’s what we will do each and every game this season. I honestly don’t care what our win-loss record is, because at the end of the year when the pressure is on, we will be ready.”

Submitted photo: The new 2021 Fort Dodge state softball championship banner sits outside of Diamond 1 at Rogers Park. The sign was donated by Kole Petersen and Full Swing Financial Planning of Fort Dodge.

Valley jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead on a two-RBI double by Mackenzie Mohler in the first. Alexa Severmer would add an RBI single later in the frame.

Mohler, Kari Rose, Claire Long and Paige Christenson all had two hits for the Tigers on the evening.

Fort Dodge answered back with a two-run first, as Meah McCaleb and courtesy runner Teryn Rippentrop both scored. Macy Brown plated McCaleb, and Lucy Porter drove in Rippentrop.

“They (the Tigers) are going to be the new No. 1 in 5A,” Adams said. “And they deserve it. Coach (Tom) Bakey has them moving like a machine right now out there.

“They are a scary, scary team. He is such a great coach, and you can tell he has that hunger to win it all again. I love games like these because they show where you have to get better.”

Submitted photo: Members and coaches of the 2021 Fort Dodge state softball championship team gather together by the new sign just outside of Diamond 1 on Friday at Rogers Park.

McCaleb had two hits for the Dodgers, while Hope Alstott and Brown each reached base twice. In the sixth, Fort Dodge added two more runs, taking advantage of a pair of errors.

Eighth-grader Aubrey Alstott drove in a run. Junior Katie Mason come on in relief and “did a really good job” pitching.

“As coaches, we watch the JV games and see what they are doing,” Adams said. “Katie pitched very well against such an impressive lineup. You can’t give Valley extra outs with errors, and we did.”

Marin Heller, Valley’s leadoff hitter who has committed to Florida State University as a junior, went 1-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.

The school honored the 2021 Dodger state championship squad with a ceremony before the varsity tilt, unveiling a sign next to the Diamond 1 entrance. Players from that FDSH squad were in attendance and recognized on the infield.

The sign, which is prominently displayed in foul territory near the right-field corner, was donated by ex-Dodger Kole Petersen of Full Swing Financial Planning in Fort Dodge.

The Dodgers Des Moines East back here on Wednesday for a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m., before making their road debut at Mason City on Thursday.

WEST DES MOINES VALLEY 13, FORT DODGE 4

WDM Valley 300 124 3 — 13 11 2

Fort Dodge 200 002 0 — 4 7 4

WP–Tealey Schwingendorf (1-0, 4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 K, 2 BB). LP–Lucy Porter (1-1, 4 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 0 K, 1 BB). HR–WDMV: Mackenzie Mohler, Claire Long. 3B–WDMV: Kari Rose. 2B–WDMV: Mackenzie Mohler, Claire Long, Paige Christenson, Marin Heller; FD: Hope Alstott. RBI–WDMV: Kari Rose (2), Claire Long (3), Mackenzie Mohler (4), Alexa Severmer; FD: Macy Brown, Lucy Porter. LOB–WDMV: 6; FD: 5.