FORT DODGE, Ia. -- Indianola’s softball players stood in a circle and stretched hands toward its center.

FORT DODGE, Ia. -- Indianola’s Sammie Becker crushed the softball over the right field fence, then heard the roar of her teammates.

The Indianola Indians will face Johnston Wednesday in a sub-state final after defeating Lewis Central 8-1 in Council Bluffs Monday.

Sammie Becker and her Indianola softball teammates have different personalities and backgrounds. But bring them together and they make a great, unified team.

The Indianola Indians faced the East Scarlets three times this season and won only one of the three. But it was the one that mattered, as the Indians shut out the Scarlets to take a 3-0 win Friday and move on to the second round of sub-state.

It seemed like Indianola could pack its bags for State when they got their first run in the bottom of the first inning.

Indianola needed just five innings to beat Dowling Catholic in their first game of regional play Saturday, shutting down the Maroons 11-1. The Indians will face Southeast Polk Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Indianola with a trip to state on the line.

The last home game of the Indianola baseball season ended a little early Friday as the Indians beat Knoxville 11-1 in six innings.

Indianola picked up two wins over Newton Wednesday and celebrated seniors who graduated in May.

The first inning of Indianola’s first game against Sioux City East didn’t look promising.