By Matt Gade

605 Sports

SIOUX FALLS — When Sioux Falls Jefferson senior pitcher Whitney Portner stepped off the mound in the middle of the fourth inning, it was an emotional moment for the Cavaliers’ ace, but she knew it was best to help her team come away with a win.

And the Cavaliers did just that, shutting out Sioux Falls Washington to secure the Cavaliers’ first state softball defeating the Warriors 4-0 in the Class AA state tournament on Saturday at Augustana University's Bowden Field in Sioux Falls.

“It was a little hard because that was my last game, but I‘m just happy that our team won,” Portner said. 

After three and two-thirds innings, Portner surrendered her spot on the mound to freshman teammate Tya Devericks to finish out the final three and one-third innings in the game.

“We kind of just rolled with that plan,” Jefferson head coach Ed Whiting said. “(Sioux Falls Washington is) way too good over there to see a pitcher more than twice. 

“So the plan in the beginning had nothing to do with Whitney. Obviously, she struck her last girl out. Tribute to her. She had an absolutely amazing game. But the plan was, once we got to the third time in the lineup, we're just gonna give them a different look. And that's how it's been all year. Those two have been absolutely rock solid in the circle.”

“I knew she (Devericks) would have my back and she'd go out there and do everything she could to get the win,” Portner said. “So I wasn't scared for a minute. I knew she would do amazing. She always does.”

Sioux Falls Jefferson's Whitney Portner (23) pitches against Sioux Falls Washington during the Class AA first-place game on Saturday at Augustana University's Bowden Field in Sioux Falls. (Matt Gade/605 Sports)

Both Portner and Devericks only surrendered three hits each while never giving up a run. 

At the plate, Portner also led the Cavaliers' scoring, the right-hander drove in two runs off a double in the top of the first while finishing 2-for-4 at the plate on the day. 

In total, the Cavaliers recorded four runs on eight hits. Sioux Falls Jefferson's third baseman recorded a solo home run in the top of the second. 

A Devericks single in the top of the fifth scored Macy Bryant for the Cavaliers' final run.

Portner said the Cavaliers (20-3) were motivated going into the tournament, looking to redeem themselves in some of their regular-season losses.

Sioux Falls Jefferson's Tya Devericks (3) dumps water onto head coach Ed Whiting after the Cavaliers 4-0 win against Sioux Falls Washington Warriors during the Class AA first-place game on Saturday at Augustana University's Bowden Field in Sioux Falls. (Matt Gade/605 Sports)

Sioux Falls Jefferson’s three losses in the regular season came against Brandon Valley, Sioux Falls O’Gorman and Sioux Falls Washington.

The Cavaliers would get their revenge against Brandon Valley in the opening round of the tournament, knocking off the Lynx 3-0. Then, after defeating the top-seeded Sioux Falls Lincoln Patriots 10-6 in the semifinals to advance to the championship, the Cavaliers got another shot at the Warriors.

“In the end, (the tournament) kind of has that fantasy feel to it, right? Like we get a chance to redeem ourselves,” Whiting said. “(The players) actually just said that they want to call O’Gorman up and see if they'll schedule a game with us so we can knock one more of those losses off. So that's a big deal.”

“That kind of fueled us, knowing that we wanted to get back at them for losing to them earlier this season,” Portner said. “We were ready to go do whatever it took to get a win today.”

The Cavaliers are just the second team to win the Class AA state championship since the sport was first sanctioned for play in 2023. In the previous two years, the Sioux Falls Lincoln Patriots came away with the trophy.

This season was also the first time the Class AA state tournament was held in Sioux Falls, with the first two seasons held in Aberdeen.

Portner said getting to win in front of a home crowd made the victory extra special.

Witting said he’s excited for next year, but knows losing Portner, along with his other two seniors, Peyten Krull and Darby Neugebauer, is going to be a tough loss.

“She (Portner) is the strongest leader, the first person I call if we're having issues. She takes care of the girls kind of like a mom, and she just shows up hard and works every single day,” Witting said. “You don't get to see that, you get to see her performance out here, but that's a tribute to her work ethic, she's just an amazing kid that never stops working.”