Behind the stellar pitching arm of junior Chase Clarahan, the No. 8 in Class 1A Siogurney Savage baseball team began the 2026 season with a 5-0 shutout win over the Pella Christian Eagles in a game heard live on KCII.

After the first four frames went scoreless, action picked up in the top of the fifth when the Savages plated the game’s first three runs on defensive mistakes by the Eagles. The first run scored after an attempt at a double play went awry. Carson O’Rourke scored when first baseman Lewis Menninga failed to glove a catch, giving him enough time to get to home plate from second base. After a passed ball scored Lincoln Power, another error by Menninga gave enough leeway for courtesy runner Carver Russell to score to make the game 3-0 going into the bottom half. Sigourney would add insurance from there while keeping PC scoreless, expanding the lead to 4-0 after six before closing the door for good with closer Jordan Tremmel striking out the side in the seventh to get the win.

Unofficially, Sigourney scored five runs on five hits with one error. Pella Christian went scoreless on five hits of their own and four errors, stranding five on base. Top Sigourney hitter on the night went to Clarahan, who went two-for-five with a double, a single and an RBI. Clarahan also took the win on the bump, throwing six complete frames allowing no runs on four hits, no walks and 10 strikeouts. Tremmel allowed one hit and collected three Ks in his inning of work in relief. After the game, Washington County Hospital and Clinics Savage of the Game, Chase Clarahan, joined KCII Sports to talk about the win.

“I think it all started on the hitting side,” Clarahan said. “I finally got my first hit, and I felt just amazing. My arm was feeling even better than the first couple innings, and it was amazing. I kind of struggled in the scrimmages, but other than that, it just feels amazing.”

Pella Christian was led by Menninga’s two-for-three night at the dish with a pair of singles. Blake Gallaher took the loss, tossing four-and-two-thirds innings allowing three runs, one earned, on three hits, a walk and four punchouts.

The win improves Sigourney to 1-0, dropping Pella Christian to 0-1.