By Sam Parsons
The #8 Sigourney Savages softball team played a much-anticipated rematch of last year’s region final against #12 Twin Cedars; this edition took place at Schafer Field, and once again, it was the home team leaving with a 1-run win.
The game was scoreless for the first 4.5 innings of play as Sigourney’s Carly Goodwin and Twin Cedars’ Jillian French traded zeros on the scoreboard. The Savages put runners in scoring position in every inning, but French was able to stay composed and work her way out of danger time and time again.
Perhaps fittingly, the first run of the game was scored from 1st base. Sigourney senior Rain Barthelman reached on an infield single and Goodwin promptly ripped a double to left center field to drive her in, and the Savages were up 1-0 after 5 full innings.
The Sabers would respond quickly. Senior catcher Rylee Dunkin launched a leadoff triple that very nearly cleared the fence, if not for a high-effort play by Savage center fielder Courtney Hemsley. Dunkin would score on a wild pitch later in the inning to tie the game at 1-1.
But the Savages would respond with a run of their own in the bottom of the 6th: Hemsley, battling through a minor injury sustained on the Dunkin triple, reached base with a double and was brought in on a throwing error to 1st base. The Savages led 2-1 entering the 7th inning.
Twin Cedars would not back down from the challenge and made things suspenseful: senior Cheyanne Bruns reached with a leadoff single and two batters later, sophomore Alli Reed hit a single of her own to put runners at the corners with only 1 out. With Sigourney’s season in the balance, Carly Goodwin handled the rest, forcing a popout from Saber first baseman Jordyn Weldon and recording her 15th strikeout of the game against right fielder Jayden Weldon to end the game at 2-1.
The Savages will play in the state tournament for the second time in three years. They enter as the 7 seed and their first round matchup is scheduled for next Tuesday, 7/18, against #2 North Linn at 7pm.
