7th-inning rally sends Sigourney to the Class 1A state softball championship

FORT DODGE — First, she saw it with her eyes closed.

Then came reality, and that was so much sweeter.

With sixth-ranked Sigourney down to its final out, Ava Fineran delivered a mega-clutch two-run single, and the Savages went on to trip No. 1 Martensdale-St. Marys, 3-2, for the Class 1A softball championship Friday night at the Rogers Sports Complex.

“I’ve mostly attacked the first pitch all season,” Fineran said. “I had to go with swinging hard on the first pitch, or not at all.”

It was a gloriously stunning ending for the Savages (26-7), who had done precious little against MSM pitcher Campbell German.

“This has been our goal the whole season,” said senior pitcher Carly Goodwin, the all-tournament captain. “To accomplish it ... it’s an unbelievable feeling.”

Goodwin’s first-inning home run was the Savages’ lone hit through the first six innings.

The second, a Goodwin single, led off the top of the seventh. Then came two straight strikeouts, German’s 11th and 12th.

The 13th came too late.

With Goodwin still at first base, Amiya Smallwood laid down a bunt that was misplayed.

“I felt like I was struggling with my hitting,” Smallwood said. “I’m a good bunter, I’m quick, so this was my best chance.”

When Blue Devils Coach Emily Wood called for a defensive conference, Sigourney Coach Shelly Streigle summoned Fineran.

“I looked Ava in the eyes, and I told her to close them,” Streigle said. “I said, ‘Visualize yourself hitting the ball. Now take a deep breath and open your eyes. I know you can do it.’”

The first pitch went into the right-center field gap. Goodwin scored, and Smallwood followed her home, all the way from first.

“With two outs, I was off with the crack of the bat,” Smallwood said. “I knew I was scoring.”

As for Fineran:

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“I got to first base, and I thought I was going to pass out,” she said. “It was electric.”

Sigourney led 3-2. But there was a hitch — three outs still stood between them and the championship.

When Maryann Hart walked and Mac German bunted for a single, the top of the order was up for the Blue Devils (30-7).

Goodwin retired three in a row: F-7, F-4, F-1.

Ball game. Championship.

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Photos: Sigourney vs. Martensdale St. Marys in Class 1A state softball championship

Sigourney had four 1A all-tournament selections. Fineran joined Goodwin, as did Josephine Moore and Erin Dawson.

Goodwin sent a 2-0 pitch out of the park in the top of the first inning, then Martensdale-St. Marys answered with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the second.

The Savages caught a big break in the third. MSM’s Abby Hughes appeared to drive home Brynnley German with a sacrifice fly for a 3-1 lead, but German was ruled out for leaving third base too early.

Meanwhile, Sigourney managed just two baserunners from the second inning through the sixth.

“It’s been one team, one dream from the beginning,” Fineran said. “It got to be the seventh inning, and it was like, ‘Oh, God, this is real. This is our last chance, and we’ve got to leave it all out there.’”

Nearly an hour after the game, the Savages returned to the main diamond after pictures and hugs nearby with parents and friends.

They gently scooped up dirt from the infield, as if it was moon rocks.

Someday, when they are older, that dirt will be more valuable than diamonds.

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Sigourney 3, Martensdale-St. Marys 2

Class 1A State Final, at Fort Dodge

Sigourney 100 000 2 — 3 4 2

Martensdale-St. Marys 020 000 0 — 2 6 2

Carly Goodwin and Josephine Moore. Campbell German and Sydney Bears. W — Goodwin (24-2). L — German (17-6). HR — SIG: Goodwin (7).

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com