Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Brooke Waechter of Sigourney catches a fly ball against Akron-Westfield on Monday at Rogers Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Cinderella took another step toward the Class 1A state softball championship here Monday at Rogers Park, as unranked Sigourney knocked off No. 2 Akron-Westfield in the quarterfinals, 7-3.

The Savages (23-11 overall) now face Clarksville (28-2) on Thursday night in the semis on Diamond 2 at 7:30 p.m.

In the regional final last week, Sigourney upset third-ranked Martensdale-St. Mary’s, 3-2, to advance to state for the first time since scoring a fourth place finish in 2001.

While the Westerners are known as pests on the bases, it was the reigning state track champion Savages who took advantage of every opportunity. Sigourney scored three runs right off the bat in the first, as Autum Barthelman doubled and scored on a single by Summer Barthelman. Madison Schauf and Hannah Lucas both also scored.

Summer Barthelman was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, while Autum Barthelman and Madison Schauf each had two hits. Both Autum and Summer Barthelman were part of that state track team, with Autum winning the 100 hurdles and sister Summer the 400 hurdles.

“We knew (Akron-Westfield) liked to bunt, but we prepared for that and did a good job of taking it away,” Summer Barthelman said. “We knew they have a great tradition and have been a really good program.”

Autum Barthelman admitted that the constant changes and breaks in play “confused me, but it didn’t bother any of us.”

Just one senior is on the roster for the Savages and veteran coach Shelly Striegle in pitcher Kendall Streigle. She went the distance, allowing nine hits and three earned runs to improve to 20-5 on the year.

“It’s exciting,” Autum Barthelman said. “We’ve just been having fun at practice. It’s been a long time since a Sigourney team has made it to state, so we are excited to get his far and leave a legacy for the next group.”

For the Westerners (35-3), they now compete Tuesday morning on Diamond 2 in the consolation semifinals against Belle Plaine (23-7). Brynn VanEldik had three hits, while Jessica Hansen and Bailey Davis each drove in a run, who had scored at least 10 runs 25 times, including 11 times in the last 13 games.

Akron-Westfield, a six-time state champion under Todd Colt, fought back to make it 3-2 before allowing three more runs in the fourth. They had a 17-game win streak come to an end with the loss.

SIGOURNEY 7,

AKRON-WESTFIELD 3

A-W 002 010 0 – 3 8 3

Sigourney 300 301 – 7 11 3

Ann Hedlund (L, 18-2, 4 IP, 5 ER, 3 K, 0 BB), Bailey Davis (2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 K, 1 BB) and Danika Smith, Bailey Davis; Kendall Streigle (W, 20-5, 7 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 0 K, 2 BB) and Leah Carter.

2B-S: Autum Barthelman, Summer Barthelman. RBI–A-W: Jessica Hansen, Courtney Waterbury, Bailey Davis; S: Summer Barthelman, Kendall Streigle, Autum Barthelman. SB–A-W: Courtney Waterbury, Brynn VanEldik; S: Autum Barthelman.