FORT DODGE - Alyssa Olson and Maddie Hansen are young. They're just sophomores. They'll have two more chances to get back to the state softball tournament with the Jefferson J-Hawks in the next two years and try to win the title.

Their first trip to the Class 5A state tournament ended in frustration Tuesday night with a 2-0 loss to third-ranked Ottumwa in the opening round at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge.

The J-Hawks (31-12) put up a good fight, but Ottumwa pitcher Mandi Moore and the Ottumwa hitters were just a little better and defeated Jefferson for the third time this season, including once in 13 innings back in Cedar Rapids.

Ottumwa (37-6) will face Johnston (31-11) in the semifinals Thursday night.

Jefferson will meet West Des Moines Valley (26-16) in a consolation game Wednesday at noon. The J-Hawks will play a second time Wednesday at 4 p.m., either for fifth place or seventh place.

"Our goal at the beginning of the year was Fort Dodge. We made it here," said Olson, Jefferson's star pitcher. "We're still ready to go out and fight (on Wednesday). We're not going to give up now."

Ottumwa scored twice in the third inning on a single, a sacrifice bunt, an RBI double by Katie Sammons, another single and an RBI single by Alexis Winne. Moore made those two runs stand tall all game. She scattered four hits, struck out six batters and did not walk a single J-Hawk.

"I knew Moore was going to be tough," said Jefferson Coach Brian Erbe. "I thought she pitched really, really well. She throws the ball hard."

Hansen, a power-hitting catcher, went 2-for-3 for the J-Hawks and hit a rocket off the right-field fence as the leadoff batter in the top of the seventh inning. The ball was hit so hard that Hansen had to pull up at first base with a long single.

Savannah Fowler ran for Hansen and it brought Maddie Koolbeck to the plate as the potential tying run.

Koolbeck hit the ball hard, but it went right to Roark, the Ottumwa second baseman. Roark tagged Fowler and threw to first base to nail Koolbeck for the double play. Erin Kuba popped out to end the game.

Hansen described playing in the state tournament as "pretty awesome," despite the loss.

"We worked our butts off this year for us to get here," she said. "We did it and we aren't done yet. We're going to keep going."

Olson also enjoyed playing in the state tournament for the first time. "It's exciting, it's overwhelming," she said, "but I don't let the nerves get to me."

Olson gave up two runs on seven hits. She struck out seven batters and walked one.

It was a tight game all the way, but the J-Hawks could not get a big hit all night. "If we score early, you never know what happens," said Erbe.

The J-Hawks returned to their hotel Tuesday night to talk about the game and get ready for Wednesday.

"To me, that's the toughest coaching job, getting them ready to play in the consolation round," said Erbe. "But we'll be back, we'll play well."

OTTUMWA (2): Sammons, lf, 3 1 1 1, Roark, 2b, 4 0 2 0, Garrett, cf, 4 0 0 0, Winn, dh, 2 0 1 1, Wiley, pr, 0 0 0 0, Overturf, c, 3 0 0 0, Peyton, 1b, 3 0 1 0, Thompson, ph, 1 0 0 0, Strunk, 3b, 3 0 0 0, Henderson, ss, 3 0 2 0, Davis, pr, 0 0 0 0, Griffiths, rf, 1 0 0 0, Moore, p, 0 0 0 0. Totals 27 2 7 2.

JEFFERSON (0): Stromert, cf, 3 0 2 0, Davidson, 2b, 2 0 0 0, Grimm, lf, 3 0 0 0, Hansen, c, 3 0 2 0, Fowler, cr, 0 0 0 0, Koolbeck, 1b, 3 0 0 0, Kuba, 3b, 3 0 0 0, Holub, ss, 2 0 0 0, Towns, rf, 2 0 0 0, Stauffer, dh, 2 0 0 0, Olson, p, 0 0 0 0. Totals 23 0 4 0.

Ottumwa    002 000 0 - 2 7 0
Jefferson     000 000 0 - 0 4 1

Moore and Overturf. Olson and Hansen. W-Moore. L-Olson. 2B-Sammons. SB-Stromert, Fowler. T-1:45. A-4,215.