Having two-area teams duke it out with a district title on the line makes for an anticipated matchup. Combine that with one of the best pitching team in the state in Iowa Mennonite School with one of the highest scoring offenses in Sigourney and you make for a game with a lot of intrigue. On Saturday, pitching prevailed as IMS hurler Blake Bontrager stymied the Savage offense en route to a dominating 10-0 win in five innings.

IMS showed their explosiveness offensively as they racked up nine of their 10 runs on clutch two-out hitting. Bontrager got the action started in the first inning with a two RBI double to take the early 2-0 lead. Drake Brezina continued his hot stretch at the plate with a two RBI single in the second and then broke things opened in the fourth with a three RBI double. Taking a 9-0 lead into the fifth, Cole Ours delivered the final blow with a RBI single to end the Savage season and take his team one step closer to state. The offense was more than enough for Bontrager, as he wasted no time going after the Savage hitters. He pitched all five innings giving up three hits on just 64 pitches and marks the third straight gem thrown by an IMS pitcher in the postseason. Brezina finished the night with a pair of hits with five RBI to lead the offense. Carson Crawford, Dustin Haines, and Brett Streigel had the lone hits for the Savages.

Sigourney concludes their season at 15-8, a nine-win improvement from 2016. A big future could be on the horizon for the young Savages, as they only lose Avery Moore and Tanner Bos to graduation. IMS improves to 14-9 and is one win away from a state appearance. They will battle in the substate final tomorrow against North Linn (40-2) at Cedar Rapids Prairie.