An undefeated season only matters if it results in a state championship. For Sioux Falls Lincoln, who hasn’t lost a game since May 9th of last year, they proved this weekend that they’re the top team in the state. The Patriots defeated Harrisburg 7-1 on Saturday in the ‘AA’ state championship game. It’s back-to-back state sanctioned championships, and their third straight, if you include high school club.
Lincoln rolled past Watertown in the quarterfinals and then impressed again in the semifinals to set up a date with Harrisburg in the title game.
The Patriots were hot on offense out the gate. Norah Christiansen, Paxton Dekkers, and Sara Mathison combined for four RBI’s in the opening frame. In the second inning, they scored three more runs off of hits from Avery Dorman and Kierra Lubovich. This gave Lincoln a 7-0 lead going into the third inning.
“One of the things we talk about is ‘pass the bat.’ You don’t have to do it, because the girl behind you can. You don’t have to hit a home run, you don’t have to do something you’re not capable of doing, get on base,” explained Patriots head coach Trent Dlugosh. “If they’re going to walk you, take the walk and pass the bat off to the person behind you.”
Macy Bryant of Harrisburg did get the Tigers on the board in the fourth with a double to left, but that would be the final run scored in the game by both teams, which sealed the win for Lincoln.
One of the key components to the Patriots success all year has been senior pitcher Madison Evans. She pitched a complete game on Saturday, striking out 15, while only allowing one hit, one earned run, and two walks. Coach Dlugosh has high praise for his ace.
“She’s huge. Not a vocal leader at all, but just the way she sets the tone with her determination, her grit, the way she leads on offense. And then what she does as a pitcher. I’ve been doing this for thirteen years,” he said. “There have been some girls who have gone on to play at the University of Mississippi, at Auburn, at Arkansas, but for my money, Madison is the best high school player I’ve ever seen.”
In the quarterfinal round, Evans threw a no-hitter against Watertown. In an interview after that game, she felt like this year’s Lincoln squad was special.
"This is probably the best team that Lincoln softball has ever seen, and that’s saying a lot coming the history of this program,” Evans stated. “We have great culture, we have great energy, everyone gets along, so I’m just happy to be here with this team.”
This is technically Lincoln’s third straight state softball championship, but because the sport has only been sanctioned for two, the state will only recognize this as a repeat accomplishment.
Coach Dlugosh admits that while each state championship has been special, this one is different because of the upper classmen leadership on the squad.
“This senior class has done a lot of winning, obviously, and they just play so hard, and they love the game so much and each other so much, so that’s what makes this one’s special,” said the Patriots skipper. “We talk about that winning is not normal. Only one team gets to end the season with a win, and it’s not normal, so if you want to be that team, you have to do things that aren’t normal. They’re willing to do it and put in the work. It’s all them.”
