Bruns Blast Three Run Homer, as Savages Secure First State Bid in Program History!

SIGOURNEY—On July 16, the #8 ranked Sigourney Savages made the trip to Fairfield Middle School for the Substate 6 Championship against the #2 ranked Burlington Notre Dame Nikes. The Savages secured the 4-2 upset, and punched their first ticket to the Class 1A State Tournament in program history. 

After the game, Sigourney Head Coach Lee Crawford described the moment with, “It was a year of hard work from these kids. They really bought into everything that we were selling them. About a month ago, they started to ask questions about how to play defense. You could tell at the English Valleys game that things were different.”

The Savages knew coming into this game they would have to play sound defense to upset a team like the Nikes. Coach Crawford has described how this team has been preparing for this game since the win over English Valleys to start postseason play.

The Savages’ defense found themselves in a position with runners in scoring position, but played smart and sound defense to limit the damage. The Nikes struck first with a sac-fly in the top of the fifth inning, but stranded a runner on third base. In total, the Nikes managed 13 base runners, but only scored two runs from that.

Coach Crawford spoke on his defense with, “Our kids just shut them down. Our kids played flawless defense. Reid Molyneux caught a ball going backwards. Isaac Bruns tracked a few balls in the gap. It was a flawless night of defense from the kids.”

The highlight of the night was a catch by senior left fielder Reid Molyneux. Molyneux made a circus catch that saved multiple runs for the Savages. Molyneux recapped the moment with, “I saw it off the bat, and didn’t know if I could catch it. I tracked it down. It was just in reach. Jumped up, and came down with it. That was three outs, and such a huge play.”

Molyneux battled through an ACL injury at the start of his senior year. He worked tirelessly to be able to participate in any sport he could his senior season. He managed to get healthy for the baseball season, and helped make Sigourney baseball history with their first state tournament appearance. Molyneux described his journey as, “I don’t even know how to explain. I worked so hard, and everyone around me supported me. I just worked my tail off for this moment. To come through for my team now, when I couldn’t in other sports is amazing.”

The Savages did not waiver after giving up the first run of the game, they fought back. Junior Caden Clarahan tied the game up with an RBI single then junior Isaac Bruns broke things up when he blasted a three run home run. 

Bruns spoke on his approach for that at bat as, “I am just trying to attack early, and hit fastballs. Really just hit the ball while I am up.”

The Savages head to Carol on July 22 for a first round matchup against a familiar foe in the Lynnville-Sully Hawks. The Hawks beat the Savages early this season despite Sigourney etching a 3-1 lead.