Warhawks Win Their First Ever State Tournament Game

The West Fork softball team capped off their historic season with their first ever victory in the state tournament. The Warhawks defeated the Durant Wildcats 7-1 on Tuesday, July 22 in the quarterfinals of the IHSAA 2A state tournament at the Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge. The win advanced the Warhawks to the state semifinals for the first time in school history. 

The Warhawks were the five seed while the Wildcats were the four seed in the tournament. After the first two innings of the game were scoreless, the Warhawks broke through in the top of the third inning. Senior shortstop Preslee Dickman got the scoring started with a two-run home run that hit the top of the fence before going into the stands in center field. Preslee’s sister, junior right fielder Brylee Dickman added another run with an RBI single that drove in senior center fielder JoAnna Wallace. The Warhawks took a 3-0 lead into the top of the fourth inning where they would add on more runs, after a two-run double for Preslee Dickman, her third and fourth RBIs of the game. Dickman was happy with her production at the plate and said she couldn’t have done it without her teammates. 

“I am really grateful to put on that kind of performance in the state tournament," Dickman said. “I figured I couldn’t have done it without my team supporting me. We are all really close friends.”

The Warhawks added two more runs in the inning after RBis from senior pitcher Libby Trewin and Brylee Dickman, to take a commanding 7-0 lead. Durant would score their lone run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Trewin was the starting pitcher inside the circle for the Warhawks, and just like she has done her whole career, she had a dominant outing. Trewin pitched a complete game, tossing seven innings and allowing only one run on four hits and one walk, while striking out eight Wildcats’ batters. Head coach of the Warhawks, Sadie Winfrey, discussed the importance of this victory. 

“It’s a huge deal considering it is the first time West Fork has ever won a state game,” Winfrey said. “Last year was the first time we ever made it here and we didn’t really know what to expect. I think this year, coming in as a five seed, it helped them a little bit with the nerves knowing that they are capable of winning this game.”

The Warhawks' run for a state championship came to an end with a 5-4 loss to Van Meter on Wednesday, July 23. The Warhawks finished fourth place in state after a 5-3 loss to Louisa-Muscatine in the third place game on Friday, June 25. Despite the season not ending how the team wanted, this West Fork softball team will go down as the most successful team in program history.