The Bulldogs haven’t gotten the message now in three meetings against Webster City’s all-state slugger.

For the second consecutive year, Stoakes buried Hampton-Dumont/CAL with her oh-so sweet swing from the left side of the plate Monday night, as she went 2 for 3 with a double, home run and four RBIs in the 14th-ranked (Class 4A) Lynx season-opening 10-3 victory.

In her three career outings — all WCHS wins — at Hampton, Stoakes is 8 for 10 with three doubles, two dingers and seven RBIs. She was perfect in four at bats with a double, a long ball and three RBIs in 2019.

“Her first at bat (on Monday) was a hard-hit ball, but it was a groundout and I think it gave (the Bulldogs) a false sense of security,” WCHS head coach Jess Howard said. “(Stoakes) made them pay for it the second time, and she did it again in the sixth inning.”

WCHS shortstop Taylor McKinney (left) makes an over-the-shoulder catch in shallow left field during Monday’s 10-3 victory over Hampton-Dumont/CAL in Hampton. DFJ photo/Meredith Bargfrede

Both of Stoakes’ knocks came when the Lynx trailed. Hampton-Dumont/CAL led 2-0 until Stoakes turned on a Courtney Miller offering and sent it into the right-center gap for a two-run double in the third. The Bulldogs owned a 3-2 advantage in the sixth when Stoakes launched a shot over the fence in left-center for a two-run home run that put WCHS (1-0, 1-0 NCC) in front to stay.

And then the Lynx took off.

WCHS rattled off five hits and scored six runs in the sixth to put the Bulldogs away. Alayna Finucan got the ball rolling with a lead-off bunt single, and Stoakes’ bomb allowed the Lynx to swing freely. Jenna Miller singled, Livia Kasch roped an RBI single, and Tatum Goings added a base hit.

“Alayna did a good job of coming out and getting on base right away in that inning, that was huge,” Howard said. “Stoakes set the tone for the rest of the girls and after that we had a group of girls in a row that followed through.

“The girls did a good job of handling pressure situations.”

DFJ photo/Meredith Bargfrede

WCHS finished with nine hits off Courtney Miller, one of the top returning hurlers in the NCC. Addie Tesdahl and Goings joined Stoakes with two.

Avery Hanson went 3 for 4 with two doubles and an RBI for the Bulldogs (0-1, 0-1 NCC), and Courtney Miller added a pair of singles. Aspen Harlan roped a double.

Hampton-Dumont/CAL moved in front 3-2 in the fifth and had runners at second and third with just one out. But Jenna Miller, the Lynx veteran ace in the circle, buckled down to mitigate the damage and retired seven of the final eight batters she faced.

“To keep them to one run (in the fifth) was really big,” Howard said. “It was good to see the girls hold their composure and not get rattled.”

Jenna Miller was touched for six hits, but only two of the Bulldog runs were earned. The right-hander struck out eight.

WCHS was on the road for a non-conference game against Boone last night, and tonight the Lynx will face a stern conference test at home against 10th-ranked (3A) and 2019 state qualifier Algona. The first pitch this evening from Lynx Field is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Fundraiser

The WCHS softball team is currently holding a fundraiser by selling discount cards that have in the past been sold by the Webster City Little League.

The cards will be on sale in the announcer’s booth at tonight’s game against Algona, and they can also be purchased by contacting coach Jess Howard or any of the players.

Webster City 10, H-D/CAL 3

Monday at Hampton

Web City 002 006 2 — 10 9 3

H-D/CAL 200 010 0 — 3 6 2

Jenna Miller and Kelly Stoakes. Courtney Miller and Aspen Harlan. WP — J. Miller. LP — C. Miller. Multiple hits — WC: Stoakes, Addie Tesdahl; H-D/C: Avery Hanson (3), C. Miller. 2B — WC: Stoakes; H-D/C: Hanson (2), Harlan. HR — WC: Stoakes. RBI — WC: Stoakes (4), Livia Kasch; H-D/C: Hanson, Harlan, Tara Krull.