At KCII, we’re continuing to count down the top 10 sports stories at area high schools in the 2023-2024 academic year. At number five is the Sigourney Savages baseball team reaching the state tournament for the first time in program history.

Having put together three straight seasons with a winning record and at least 18 wins coming into 2024, Sigourney expected big things on the diamond this past summer, and they delivered.

The Savages started the season 7-0 before a walk-off loss to Lynnville-Sully but would not lose a conference game the rest of the way, finishing the regular season 17-4 overall and taking second place in the South Iowa Cedar League.

After rolling past English Valleys 18-0 in their postseason opener, Sigourney knocked off Lone Tree 6-4 in the second round of the substate playoffs behind five no-hit innings and 11 strikeouts from pitcher Caden Clarahan.

The Savages toppled conference rival BGM 6-1 in the District 12 championship game, getting another excellent pitching effort from senior Reid Molyneux, who allowed only three hits and four walks in five-and-a-third innings while also collecting nine strikeouts.

Taking on the number-two-ranked team in the state in Burlington Notre Dame in the substate final, eighth-ranked Sigourney trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth when the lineup broke through.

Clarahan’s base hit tied the game, but it was a three-run home run by junior Issac Bruns that was the big blow, providing enough offense to ultimately give the Savages a 4-2 victory and their first-ever bid at state.

Sigourney would make eventual state champion Lynnville-Sully work for it in a rematch in the state quaterfinals, but they would suffer a 2-0 loss to end an otherwise spectacular season with a record of 21-5.

Clarahan would go on to earn all-conference, all-district and all-state honors for his brilliant season. The junior led the Savages with a .542 batting average, six home runs and 42 runs batted in while also allowing just a 1.60 earned-run average and piling up 71 punch-outs on the mound.

Molyneux ended up receiving all-state plaudits as well, going 6-1 with a 2.90 ERA and 56 Ks on the bump but also hitting .361 with seven doubles, a homer and 22 RBI. Bruns made the all-conference squad by batting .326 with nine doubles and three home runs and driving in 34 runs.

Teammate Cole McKay joined him as a first-team selection, while senior Jake Moore and freshman Chase Clarahan got second-team nods and junior Brady Clark and freshman Lincoln Power received honorable mentions.

Be listening this week as the countdown of KCII’s Top 10 Area Sports Stories from the last year continues, and find the stories as their spot on the countdown is revealed at KCIIradio.com.