ADM upsets top-ranked North Polk Iowa high school softball state semifinals

FORT DODGE — The third time was the charm for Adel-Desoto-Minburn softball against No. 1 North Polk during the Class 4A Iowa state softball tournament semifinals Wednesday.

North Polk had been ranked No. 1 all season, and the Comets had beaten ADM twice during Raccoon River Conference play. But on Wednesday, it all came together for the Tigers.

ADM upset the Comets, 7-2, to earn a shot at Carlisle in Thursday's 4A championship game.

"I'm a senior, so just to have this feeling is amazing," said ADM right fielder Aleah Johnson. "The first two times we played them, with them in our conference, we weren't able to beat them. This time around, when we needed it the most, that's when we pulled through."

Lauren Hagedorn ignited the upset with her solo shot off Comet ace Ava Husak in the top of the first inning. It was ADM's first run off North Polk this season after being shut out in each of the first two meetings.

"I knew we needed to score first," Hagedorn said. "It really set the tone for the whole game, and really got our energy going from the get-go."

North Polk came back with two runs in the bottom of the inning. But the Comets did not faze the Tigers.

ADM went back in front in the top of the fourth inning on a clutch two-run single from Johnson. The Tigers got a big insurance run in the sixth on an RBI double from Cameron Smith. They plated three more runs in the seventh, all coming off wild pitches, to break the game open.

That was more than enough support for Hagedorn. She held a powerful North Polk lineup to five hits, and she tallied 10 strikeouts with only two walks in seven innings.

"She pitched very well and (Lindsay Stanford) coached well," said North Polk coach Rick Dillinger. "All credit goes to them."

Hagedorn, Johnson, Smith, Kaylee Smith, Madi James, Ellis Smith and Aniston Tollari each had one hit for ADM. Ellis Smith and Tollari each scored twice, and James and Peyton Herrick scored one run apiece.

North Polk heads into the 4A third-place game with a 37-5 record. Lucy Lucas was 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI, Tessa Dillinger singled and drove in a run. Madelyn Klever and Qwynn Nerem each had one hit for the Comets.

"The kids fought hard," Dillinger said. "We had some mistakes, and when you're up here it's going to come back and bite you. Our kids battled all year. It's not easy being ranked No. 1 as long as we were. We won the conference, went undefeated and we got here. It's a fun experience. I've been fortunate to have been a part of it for a long time."

ADM heads into the 4A title game against Carlisle with a 31-9 record.

"It'll be a great game," Hagedorn said. "We'll just need to keep our bats going."

Carlisle upends North Scott in the other 4A semifinal game

The Carlisle softball team will be going for its sixth state championship under legendary coach Jim Flaws.

The No. 7 Wildcats took down No. 6 seed North Scott, 6-2, on Wednesday.

Chloe Rolling scored the go-ahead run on a North Scott error during the top of the fourth inning. That gave Carlisle a 3-2 advantage.

Natalie Ramsey stretched the lead to 5-2 in the sixth with a two-run single, and Carlisle picked up one more insurance run on a wild pitch with the bases loaded in the seventh.

Addyson Eginoire went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Evan Johnson-Miers was 2-for-3 with a run for Carlisle on offense. Mallie Stone was the winning Wildcat pitcher after throwing four scoreless innings and only allowing two hits with three strikeouts and no walks.

The Wildcats advance to the championship game with a 36-8 record. They will attempt to win state title No. 6, all coming under Flaws, on the 30th anniversary of their first championship, won in 1994.

Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at jrandleman@gannett.com . Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: ADM upsets top-ranked North Polk Iowa high school softball state semifinals