Even with Sergeant Bluff scoring in the first inning, ADM won 12-1 to advance to state. This marks the Tigers' fifth consecutive trip to Fort Dodge.
One season was put into the books this week for ADM, while another finds yet another chapter. (Events covered July 9-15)
Softball (27-8)
Before Tuesday night, Sergeant Bluff-Luton had a 33-6 record and had just one loss by more than two runs this season. And in over 20 games this year, the Warriors were the first on the scoreboard and had just one loss.
Even with Sergeant Bluff scoring in the first inning to open the game, ADM put all that aside, winning 12-1 to advance to the state tournament. This marks the fifth consecutive trip to Fort Dodge for the Tigers.
ADM is paired as the lower seed in a 4-5 matchup against Dallas Center-Grimes on Monday morning. The two have not met since their 2023 state qualifying game when the Tigers won in Dallas Center. The Mustangs have three returning players from that critical game while the Tigers have five remaining on their roster between Ellis Smith, Madi James, Aniston Tollari, Kennedy Stanford and pitcher Lauren Hagedorn.
After losing in the seventh inning against Carlisle in the state title game, the Tigers proved to have more staying power this year, as the Wildcats missed out on even writing their name in the final bracket. Now the Tigers have the possibility of meeting another conference rival in the championship game with three-seed North Polk on the opposite side of the bracket.
Baseball (9-23)
The Tigers' season came to an end on Friday night after a 10-0 loss to Oskaloosa in the opening round of the postseason.
This is the first season ADM has been held below a .300 record since the 2016 season. The following season saw the Tigers add 14 games to the win column. Next year’s roster looks to have a normal rate of turnover, with three starters — Grant Jansen, Cade Fisher and Jaxson Book — all graduated in May.
Alex Jensen looks to be the team’s top-returning contributor, leading the team with 47 total bases and a .330 batting average this year as a sophomore. The team's top pitcher, Jackson Siefken, is also set to expand on his leading role as a junior this season after leading the team in total innings pitched and held a team-best 3.29 ERA.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: ADM softball continues state tournament streak, baseball season wraps
Category: General Sports
