Iowa state softball Class 4A roundup: North Polk eliminated on Day 3
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FORT DODGE − Let's set up the finals, shall we?
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The Class 4A field at the Iowa high school state softball tournament will narrow to just the final two teams by the end of the day Wednesday, July 22. At the start of the day, No. 1 ADM and No. 2 Carlisle were both one win from reaching the state final, while No. 3 Fort Dodge, No. 4 Western Dubuque and No. 7 North Polk were each hoping to stay alive after suffering losses earlier this week.
The final two teams remaining after today will square off on Thursday, July 23 at 7:30 p.m. for the Class 4A state title. Before we get there, here's a rundown of all the action as it happens in Fort Dodge.
Games listed in the order they are played on July 22.
No. 3 Fort Dodge 2, No. 7 North Polk 1
The Comets put on a stellar defensive effort in this elimination game, but Dodgers' pitcher Aubrey Alstott's effort in the circle and at the plate helped carry Fort Dodge to the next round.
Meg Marsh got things going for Fort Dodge in the bottom of the second, with her groundout to first allowing Calliegh Zimmerman to break the scoreless tie. In the bottom of the fourth, Alstott's solo shot over the left field wall went 234 total feet to give the Dodgers a 2-0 advantage.
North Polk's lone run came off of an RBI double from Reese Smithey in the top of the fifth to cut the deficit in half. While Fort Dodge recorded eight hits, the North Polk defense kept the Comets within striking distance all the way to the final out. North Polk's Tessa Dillinger was on third base with two outs in the top of the seventh, but could not get home to tie the game as Fort Dodge escaped to the next round.
North Polk's season concludes with a 21-18 record. Three seniors graduate after leading the program to its fourth-consecutive state tournament, but ample talent returns as the Comets will look to build on this performance in 2027.
"We put our kids in a lot of hard situations throughout the year with our tough schedule and then getting here and playing some really tough teams. I think it just makes you better," said North Polk head coach Addy Ostendorf. "You remember the feeling when you don't get that clutch hit or you don't make that defensive play. It's going to propel them forward for sure."
No. 1 ADM vs. No. 4 Western Dubuque
First pitch scheduled for 12:30 p.m. CT.
No. 2 Carlisle vs. No. 3 Fort Dodge
First pitch scheduled for 2:45 CT.
No. 1 ADM vs. No. 4 Western Dubuque
First pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. CT. Only necessary if Western Dubuque wins the game vs. ADM at 12:30 CT.
No. 2 Carlisle vs. No. 3 Fort Dodge
First pitch scheduled for 7:15 p.m. CT. Only necessary if Fort Dodge wins the game vs. Carlisle at 2:45 CT.
Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa state softball Class 4A roundup: North Polk eliminated on Day 3