Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: The Fort Dodge softball squad is at the state tournament for the seventh year in a row. Pictured here are team members (front row, left to right): Lilly Hruska, Calliegh Zimmermann, Maeleena Meyer, Aubrey Alstott, Ellie Doster, Macy Brown, Mackenzie McIlrath, Meah McCaleb, Kamryn Gochee, Hope Alstott, Katie Mason and Teryn Rippentrop. Back: Emma Mathis, Charlotte Breeser, Grace Nichols, Natalie Baade, Sydney Carver, Lucy Porter, Cadence Touney, Linnie Pratt, Ava Wessels, Ashlyn Wills and Maddie Hoshaw.

Trips to the state tournament are about much more than just softball for Fort Dodge.

Yes, the Dodgers are good again. And yes, they belong.

This program stands for more than just stats and accomplishments, though. It’s about a bond and a trust they establish through months of hard work for hours on end.

“Tere is a definite connection with each other, and an understanding of how important each one of them is to the team,” said FDSH head coach Andi Adams. “They do a lot of things together both away from the field and in the offseason.

“They have continued the Dodger standard. When you are friends, it’s much easier. They lead by example and hold each other accountable.”

With their seventh straight trip to the state tournament and 20th overall, the Dodgers gelled together to become a part of history.

“These girls don’t know anything different,” Adams said. “They are a part of something that they take pride in continuing. They don’t want to let the players who came before them down.

“At the beginning of the season, we had former players write letters to their (respective old jersey) numbers and tell them their stories. They want to carry on that tradition.”

The Dodgers (30-12 overall) will run it back in their opener, facing last year’s first round opponent — Adel-ADM (29-9) — on Tuesday night at Rogers Park in a Class 4A state quarterfinal. First pitch is set for 5:15 p.m. on Iowa Central Field (Diamond 2).

Fort Dodge became just the 12th program in Iowa high school history to earn seven straight state tourney spots. Davenport Assumption (nine) and Lisbon (seven) extended their active streaks this season as well.

The modern-day state record is nine, held by Woodward-Granger (1991-99), Akron-Westfield (2003-11), Central Springs (2015-23) and now Assumption.

Adams has always put the Dodgers up against the best, and this year was no exception. Fort Dodge dropped three straight games to end the regular season — all versus Top-10 programs from Class 5A.

“They understand their true job and the Dodger softball language,” Adams said. “They know what it means to be a team and to embrace their (respective) roles.”

With a lineup featuring pieces of five different classes, Fort Dodge has found its rhythm.

“They are all tough competitors,” Adams said. “Our girls truly feel like they’re going all the way. With our schedule, we have been in every situation. We’ve prepared ourselves to face the best, which is what we’ll see this week.”

The Dodgers reached the state tournament thanks to an 11-1 win over Le Mars and an 11-3 victory over Sergeant Bluff-Luton. The Dodgers recorded 14 hits from eight different people in the regional final.

Fort Dodge was down early to the Warriors, but rallied with 10 consecutive runs to pull away.

“Everyone is valuable in our program, top to bottom,” Adams said. “The girls running bases and the girls in the dugout are massively important. They bring the energy that helps to make our starters feel confident and comfortable.”

Junior Lucy Porter enters the state tournament with a 19-10 record this season. The right-handed pitcher is 67-23 in her four-year varsity career.

“Lucy is stoic out there,” Adams said. “Pitching at this level and with this schedule, she has been through it all. She has faced the best hitters in the state.

“She needs help, and she has that with one of the best defenses we’ve had.”

Junior Meah McCaleb and freshman Ellie Doster have come on strong for the Dodgers lately. McCaleb is 5-for-5 in the postseason so far. Doster was 4-for-4 in the last contest.

“Meah, Lucy and Ellie have great softball sense and intelligence,” Adams said. “They have taken over. They are all strong leaders in their own right, and they’ve been clutch when it counts.”

Freshman Hope Alstott is the squad’s leading hitter, batting .431 with a team-high 50 hits, 26 RBI and 29 stolen bases Doster has a squad-best 41 RBI, and she has 48 hits — with 18 for extra bases.

McCaleb has 49 hits and a team-high 55 runs, while driving in 21 and swiping 20 bases. She has also tripled five times.

Porter has driven in 26 runs and has added 34 hits.

Senior Macy Brown has 24 RBI. Freshman Maddie Hoshaw has scored 35 runs.

“We are probably the underdog (as the No. 5 seed), and we play better like that,” Adams said.

In last year’s 4A opener, the Dodgers advanced with an 8-3 victory.

ADM enters the tournament with a 9-2 win over Indianola and a 6-0 victory over Winterset in the postseason. Pitcher Lauren Hagedorn is 17-6 with 232 strikeouts, and she is a threat at the plate as well.

Hagedorn has 12 home runs and has driven in 30.

“Hagedorn is the backbone of their team,” Adams said. “She is a great hitter, a solid pitcher, and extremely confident.”

Adams knows the difference a year makes, but is confident in her squad and knows they are ready to chase their dreams.

“We just have to play Dodger softball,” Adams said. “We can’t worry too much. Anything can happen at state.

“We are playing very well and we are excited and anxious to get back on the field.”