Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Erin Dawson of Sigourney celebrates her team’s Class 1A title on Friday at Rogers Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Carly Goodwin and the Sigourney softball team would not be denied.

After being stifled by Martensdale-St. Marys ace Campbell German for much of the night, the Savages came to life in the seventh.

Senior Ava Fineran drove in two runs to the gap on a two-out, two-strike pitch, lifting Sigourney to the Class 1A state title at Rogers Park here Friday in the final game of the week, 3-2.

Goodwin, who scored the tying run on that play after hitting a single to start the seventh, finished things off from inside the circle for the first softball title in program history. The future University of Northern Iowa Panther helped her team reach state three of the last four summers, and is the 2024 Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year.

Along with striking out eight, Goodwin hit a solo home run in the first to put Sigourney up early. She also hauled in the 21st and final out of the game, had two hits and scored twice.

“It feels awesome,” Goodwin said. “To do this my senior year, it is indescribable.

“We knew it would be a good game because they have a great pitcher, but we had a solid gameplan and we were able to execute.”

Martensdale-St. Marys was denied for the second straight year after reaching the finals. Last summer, the Blue Devils fell to North Linn in the championship round. And this time, they were unable to finish off the run as the top-ranked squad in 1A.

Campbell German, who had back-to-back 13-strikeout games in the quarterfinals and semifinals, finished with 13 strikeouts once again. She retired 12 at one point, including 10 by strikeout.

Down early, MSM tied it in the second on an RBI-single by sophomore Maclaine German. They would take the lead when junior Aunie Berger came around on a wild pitch later in the frame.

The Blue Devils were trying to win their third game at state by a final score of 2-1 after besting Edgewood-Colesburg and St. Edmond.

SIGOURNEY 3, MARTENSDALE-ST. MARYS 2

Sigourney 100 000 2 — 3 4 2

MSM 020 000 0 — 2 6 2

WP–Carly Goodwin (7 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 8 K, 3 BB). LP–Campbell German (7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 13 K, 1 BB).

HR–S: Carly Goodwin. RBI–S: Carly Goodwin, Ava Fineran (2); MSM: Maclaine German. SB–MSM: Maclaine German, Campbell German, Brynlynn German.