Ava Fisch Plays the Hero as Savages Walk-Off to the Regional Final

SIGOURNEY—On July 12, the #6 ranked Sigourney Savages hosted the Highland Huskies for a third round playoff matchup. The Savages snuck past Highland thanks to a walk-off from junior Ava Fisch.

Junior Ava Fischn started things off for the Savages with a lead-off double. Fisch would then be brought home by a Carly Goodwin single.This would be the sole run the Savages scored before the walk-off winner.

The Huskies offense was stagnant for most of the game due to another spectacular pitching performance from senior Carly Goodwin. The Huskies did manage to tally a run in the top of the sixth to tie the game at one apiece.

In the bottom of the seventh, senior Ava Fineran smacked a single to put the winning runner on base. Eighth grader Devyn Smallwood then stepped into the box, and dropped a single into right field. Smallwood’s single moved pinch runner Carmalite Cave to third base.

Throughout the season, Head Coach Shelly Streigle has emphasized to her team about not shying away from their moment. Coach Streigle spoke on what it meant to the team to see Smallwood make that play with, “It means everything to me, but it wasn’t the first time this happened. The other night Kayla Renner stepped up with a big hit in the nine hole spot. It has just been several girls that are stepping up and doing what they need to do. When they get their chance, they are taking advantage of their opportunities.”

With runners on first and third and no out, junior Ava Fisch stepped into the box with a chance to play the hero. Fisch hit a dribbler up the middle to the pitcher. Carmalita Cave made a great jump from third base, and there was no throw home as a result. The Savages won the game!

After the game, junior Ava Fisch was asked about her approach as she stepped into the box with a chance to win the game. Fisch responded with, “I knew we had speed on third. I went up and knew I had to get a base hit. I just went up and got a hit.”

Fisch has been red hot at the plate all postseason. In two games, she has a batting average of 0.426 and an on-base percentage of .500. The Savage lead-off hitter has been finding her way on base at an extremely high rate. She spoke on this with, “Means a lot. I know that once I get going, the team follows me then we all stay up. It just keeps us going no matter what. I just feel I have a lot of responsibility to get the team up and going.”

Coach Streigle spoke on what she has seen from her lead-off hitter with, “You can just count on her to do it. She has been doing it for years. When Ava is hitting, the team follows along. She came through again tonight.”

Senior Carly Goodwin was lights out from the mound once again. She let up only one run on five hits in seven innings pitched. She tallied 12 strikeouts, which put her over the 300 mark on the season. Goodwin has an innate ability to shine when the lights are the brightest. Goodwin spoke on this with, “I just have to trust my stuff, Josephine’s calls and my teammates in the field. When you put it all together you get good wins just like that.”

The Savages will have one more home game in their quest to make it back to the State Tournament in Fort Dodge. They will host the Wapello Arrows on July 15.