The young Dakota softball team that soared all the way to state could not regain its footing after the dramatic loss that ended its title run in Friday's IHSA Class 1A state semifinals.

Casey-Westfield took down Dakota 10-0 in Saturday's 1A third-place game back in Peoria, sending the squad from the northern tip of Illinois home with a fourth-place finish.

Still, that's its best finish ever in softball. More Dakota at state: Down goes Dakota: Marathon battle sees LeRoy softball end Dakota's dreams of state title

"Yeah, we just didn't have our energy level there today; we were kind of flat," Dakota head coach Jeff Kinney said of Saturday's season-finale loss. "But this is probably going to be one motivated group to try and get back here." Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crosswor

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