The final team standing in the way of the Sigourney Savage softball team (26-11 overall) and a spot in the state tournament is one of the best teams in Class 1A. The Savages will travel to Ottumwa tonight for the Class 1A Region 5 championship game against the No. 2 New London Tigers (29-2 overall).

The Savage defense has allowed two runs in their first two postseason games, outscoring Moulten Udell and North Mahaska by a combine score of 18-2. Senior Jordan Carter has made an impact in her final postseason softball tournament run, going 5 for six at the plate, recording two doubles, two triples, drove in six runs and scored one more offensively. Carter has pitched 10 innings in the two victories, allowing two runs, neither earned, on five hits, no walks and struck out eight batters.

The Tigers’ two losses are the least amount in Class 1A entering the postseason tournament, posting 18 shut outs so far this season. Junior Morgan Christner leads New London both at the plate and on the mound. She leads the team in batting average (.542), on base percentage (.596), total hits (52), doubles (20), home runs (6), and runs batted in (42). Christner also has a 28-2 record as the Tigers pitcher, posting a 0.87 earned run average, and has struck out a state best 364 batters this season.

First pitch of tonight’s Class 1A Region 5 championship is set for 7 p.m. at Ottumwa High School. Listen to tomorrow’s KCII sports page for results from the game.