SIGOURNEY 

With a chance to advance to the regional final on the line the word of the day was defense.  

Elite defense by both Highland and Sigourney made the home plate a little self-conscious as it was left alone for the large majority of this 1A Region 8 semifinal matchup. Through six innings, the score was knotted up at 1-1, setting up a seventh inning where either team had the chance to extend their season with a single run. 

In front of their home crowd, it was the Savages (22-7) who powered through on offense on a day where runs were hard to come by, collecting a walk-off playoff victory, 2-1, over Highland (19-9) on July 12. 

With defense being so prevalent, both teams relied on the arm talent of their starting senior pitchers, Highland’s Grace Prybil and Sigourney’s Carly Goodwin. 

Goodwin (who has the third most strikeouts in the state) was coming off a 20-strikeout performance in her previous playoff game, but the Huskies were not daunted, as they knew their defense gave them a chance to win in every game they played. 

“The defense is our second-best thing besides speed,” Highland coach Carrie Wieland said. “Grace knew that she has the best defense in the conference, for sure, but maybe in the state. I think she knows she can rely on them.”

After Sigourney scored a single run in the first inning, Highland’s reliable defense shut out the Savages from the second to the sixth inning, but a similar statement could be made about Sigourney, as their defense shut out the Huskies from the first to the fifth inning.

Despite the stonewall Sigourney defense, Highland used its speed and some well-placed bunts to tie the game in the sixth. 

With Lilly Barre on first after a base hit, Adisyn Prottsman also got on base thanks to a well-executed bunt. Barre, who was now at third, fired up her team by reaching home to tie the game, being brought in by an RBI bunt from Mackenzie Davis.

“I’ve always told them anytime we’re on base, your job isn’t always just to get a hit, your job is to score that runner,” coach Wieland said about how she wants her team’s mindset to be when they are on offense and they have a runner in scoring position. 

With the game tied and only the seventh remaining, extra innings were looming, but Sigourney made sure this game ended in regulation.

After getting two on base with only one out, Sigourney junior Ava Fisch secured her team’s ticket to the regional final with a groundout to send home pinch runner Carmalita Cave for the game winning score. 

Going the distance on the mound, Goodwin earned her 20th pitching win of the season, striking out 12, giving up five hits, and allowing no walks. In the win she also eclipsed 300 strikeouts this year. 

Prybil was solid on the mound for Highland, earning one strikeout, surrendering four hits, and allowing zero walks. On offense Highland had six hits with Prottsman leading the way with two.

With their season halted in the semifinals, Highland ends their year with 19 wins and will say goodbye to their talented senior class: Grace Prybil, Sarah Burton, Madison Beeson, Payton Brun, Courtney Chalupa, Meleah Fesler, and Abigail Pierson.  

Highland 4, Calamus-Wheatland 2

In the game that set up their showdown with Sigourney, the Huskies went on the road and defeated the Calamus-Wheatland Warriors in the 1A Region 8 quarterfinals on July 10.

Strong defense has been Highland’s calling card this season and this game was no exception. The Huskies held the Warriors scoreless in every inning except for one and limited a team that averages 8.2 runs a game to just two.

The Huskies scored twice in the second to take a lead they never gave up. Those two runs were brought in by eighth graders Mayia Singbeil and Kamryn Fink. 

“The offense has done a really phenomenal job, even at the lower levels,” Highland coach Carrie Wieland said about the underclassmen on the team. “They’ve watched the seniors just do their job and get to the hits and score the extra runs. 

“We’re learning that not every single time you have to get on and every single time you don’t have to make a great play, no, it’s just what you’re going to do after that. So, scoring those runs was key.”

Highland added to their lead in the fight when Mackenzie Davis connected with an RBI hit when the bases were loaded. The Warriors fought back in the bottom of the inning, scoring twice to come within one of Highland.

In the bottom of the seventh inning Adisyn Prottsman took over pitching duties from Grace Prybil. She then recorded two strikeouts, which included the game ending out, to give Highland the victory. 

“I think our pitchers did a phenomenal job,” coach Wieland said about Prybil’s and Prottsman’s performances on the mound against Calamus-Wheatland. 

“Adisyn was ready, and she was ready the whole time. We kind of thought about it the inning before but Grace got us out of there. We knew what we needed to do at the end and Grace knew it was coming, and Adisyn knew she was going in. Being a sophomore, she never shows any emotion, it’s the complete opposite of 90% of us here, so we are super proud of her, we’re all pumped up for her and we’re really happy for her.”

Prybil pitched in six innings, retiring five, giving up eight hits, and allowing one walk. Prottsman faced four batters and allowed one hit and no walks. 

Highland had seven hits as a team with Prottsman leading the way with three. Also recording multiple hits was Sarah Burton, who went two for four at bat. 

“I’m just really proud of these girls,” coach Wieland said after the win. “They’ve worked so hard and come to practice every day, we practice every day, and I’m really happy for them.”