Savages Sneak Past Eagles with Molyneux Playing the Hero

SIGOURNEY—On May 22, the Sigourney Savages hosted the Keota Eagles for their home opener. The Savages snuck past the Eagles by a final score of 7-5.

Keota’s Evan Vittetoe opened up the scoring with a two-run homer to give the Eagles the lead. The Savages quickly responded with a Caden Clarahan single that brought home two runs. 

After four innings, the game was all tied up at two apiece.

The Savages then tallied three runs in the bottom of the fifth with junior Isaac Bruns knocking in one and freshman Chase Clarahn tallying to the two other RBIs.

The Eagles would quickly respond with three runs of their own in the top of the sixth. Junior Billie Kindred started the rally with an RBI followed by freshman Brennan McGuire bringing home a pair on a single.

The game was all tied up once again at five apiece. Senior Reid Molyneux stepped up to the place with the bases loaded, and an opportunity to be a hero.  Molyneux did not waver in the moment, and sliced a single up the middle. Two Savages crossed home, and Sigourney led with only three left for the victory. 

After the game, senior Reid Molyneux spoke on knocking in those runners with, “I made an error that allowed them to score two runs, so I thought I might as well score some runs here and that’s what we did.”

The Savages have pushed to 3-0, and Molyneux spoke on that with. “It feels pretty good to start the season. We know what we can do, we just haven’t shown it yet. I think we can become a pretty good team this year.”

Sigourney Head Coach Lee Crawford shared a similar sentiment with, “It feels good, but they are coming at a price. These past five, six years people have been bringing their best game to us. We have to step up to the challenge now. I think the kids are slowly getting that. Tonight is a good example of where we are.”

Sophomore Solon Yates secured the save, and the Savages defeated the Eagles by a final score of 7-5.

Freshman Chase Clarahan got the start for the Savages. He went 4 and one thirds innings with two runs on three hits and five strikeouts. Sophomore Solon Yates came in relief with two and two thirds innings pitched, three hits, three runs and one strikeout.

Keota sent out junior Billie Kindree who finished his day with four and two thirds innings pitched, five hits, five runs and four strikeouts. Senior Cole Kindred came in relife with one and one thirds innings pitched, two runs on two hits and two strikeouts.

After the game, Coach Crawford elaborated on what he was emphasizing to the team throughout the ups and downs of the game as, “We needed to be patient at the plate. They needed to back each other up, and really be there for eachother as a team. Seems like everyone made a mistake, and sometimes we don’t know how to react to that stuff. We just have to back each other up when that stuff happens. We are an experienced team, we just have to be mentally tough.”

Coach Crawford has been extremely pleased with the leaders of this team. He explained that with, “Jake (Moore) has had a heck of a year with football and wrestling. Reid (Molyneux) has always been a leader in football and wrestling until his injury. You can see the leadership coming out of him. He wants it bad. Solon (Yates) in basketball this year. He had a great season. You see some of this stuff during the season, so it is amazing to see it out here.”

The Savages storm off to a 3-0 record to start the season, and have another home game on May 24 against the English Valleys Bears.

The Eagles fall to 1-1 on the season, and will return to action on May 23 when they visit the Iowa Valley Tigers.