State Bound Savages!

SIGOURNEY—On June 10, the Sigourney Savages hosted the Twin Cedars Sabers for the Class 1A Region 8 championship. The Savages enacted revenge from last season, and defeated the Sabers 2-1 to secure their spot at Fort Dodge for the State Tournament.

The game stayed tied at 0, until the Savages struck first in the bottom of the fifth inning. Rain Barthelman stepped up to the plate with one out, and laid down a perfect bunt. Carly Goodwin stepped up the plate next, and rocketed a ball to deep right center field. Barthelman had a great jump, and with her speed was able to make it home safely. 

The Sabers responded in the top of the sixth with a leadoff triple from Rylee Dunkin. Dunkin then scored on a passed ball to tie the ball game up at one apiece.

The Savages did not waste time to retaliate. Courtney Hemsley rocketed a double to get the Savage rally started. Macy Fisch then stepped up the box, and received the bunt signal from Head Coach Shelly Streigle. Fisch laid down a spectacular bunt that caused an errant throw from the Twin Cedars third baseman. Hemsley then raced home to give the Savages the lead with one inning left to play.

Macy Fisch described what was running through head heading during the at bat with, “Just had to get it down, and move our runners. That was the only thing running through my head.” 

She described the feeling of achieving the goal of making it to Fort Dodge with, “It feels amazing. I am so happy. It is so amazing to see it come to fruition.”

When speaking on what it meant to win in front of the home crowd, Fisch said, “It’s indescribable. It’s so amazing. Our whole town is here to support us. It’s just great to have the support of everybody.”

Courtney Hemsely spoke on how it felt to score the game winning run with her team cheering her on from the dugout with, “It was so much fun because I really love this team and will miss them next year. So, having them up there cheering for me was so amazing.”

In the inning before, Hemsley was shaken up after colliding with the outfield wall. After the game, she jokingly said, “After I hit the fence, I was like we have to score the next run. I just threw my body on the fence! We have to score!” 

Sigourney Head Coach Shelly Streigle spoke of the confidence she had in her seniors in this moment with, “I really didn’t doubt them. Like I said before, they have been through the ups and downs. They are here for the long haul, and they just achieved their dreams.”

The Sabers did not go out without a fight. They started the seventh inning with a single to left field, and then stole second base to put a runner in scoring position. Macy Fisch then made a defensive gem by catching a pop up bunt from the next Twin Cedars batter. The Sabers then hit a single, that left fielder Ava Finneran was almost able to throw the runner on third out on. With runners on first and third, Carly Goodwin found herself in a jam. The next batter popped up to first baseman Erin Dawson. Goodwin struck out the final batter, and sent the Sigourney Savages to Fort Dodge for the State Tournament. 

Goodwin finished her day with seven innings pitched, no earned run on four hits and 16 strikeouts. Goodwin spoke on her performance with, “I had a lot of nerves going the whole game. I don’t think my adrenaline ever stopped. It really picked up in that final inning. I knew we had a chance at the state tournament.”

Goodwin also said, “It feels awesome with them being previous state champs too. We knew they were going to be a good team, and not give up. That showed, and we played a very good game.” Lastly, she added a little note to all of it, “Not done yet.”

On the season, Goodwin pushed her total strikeouts to 304 total. She spoke on the accomplishment with, “Feels awesome. Josephine and I have a good connection. We get a lot of strikes called, and strikeouts.  We just know each other well, and the offseason helped as well. There is no going back now.”

After the game, Coach Striegle spoke on being able to win in front of the home crowd with, “You know this crowd is incredible. We had so much support here, and so many people cheering us on. Being able to play at home in front of your home crowd with this atmosphere. They’ve talked about moving the softball field, but this is the place I always want it to be. The emotions and atmosphere is better than any place I have anywhere else I have played, or coached. This means a whole lot to be able to do this at home.”

The Savages advance to the State Tournament, which will be played at Fort Dodge on Monday July 17.