ABERDEEN — Deuel’s first-ever state softball championship capped off a special three years for Sarah and Katrina Hagberg. 

When softball became a South Dakota High School Activities Association-sanctioned sport in 2023, Sarah Hagberg was named Deuel’s head coach. And Katrina was a budding sophomore pitcher for the Cardinals. 

Three years later, the mother and daughter are state champs. 

“That’s pretty special,” Sarah said. “I was proud to be the coach of the first-sanctioned team ever and she’s a senior. So it’s pretty dang special to me.”

The Cardinals experienced ups and downs through the first three seasons, much like the mother-daughter relationship. But the sport only strengthened their bond, said Katrina.  

“It’s definitely grown,” Katrina said. “We both love the game. She played the game when she was younger and we’ve just really grown with it.”

Deuel's Sarah Hagberg hoists the state championship trophy on June 7 in Aberdeen. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

Sarah echoed her daughter’s sentiments, and also said their relationship was tightened through the past three seasons. 

“There were probably a lot of good and bad parts of it,” Sarah said. “She will probably say the same thing. But as a whole I couldn’t do it without her. Because I bounce ideas off of her because she’s the one with fastpitch experience. I am just kind of the helper that came in to say I would do it, and she knows way more about the game.”

Sarah, who will play college softball at Mount Marty University, said she could not have envisioned having another coach during her high school career.  

“I don't think I could have asked for a better coach,” Katrina said. “She understands me well. I understand her well, and it was just amazing.”

Katrina was an all-tourney selection at the state tournament. She pitched 122 of the team’s 137 innings during the season, and started 22 of 24 games. The right-hander finished 18-2, struck out 284 batters and logged a 1.721 ERA. 

She saved her best for last. In the 3-1 state championship win over Gayville-Volin, Hagberg struck out 15 batters, allowed three hits, one earned run and walked two batters.  

“Today was way closer than I would have liked it to be,” Sarah said. “But Katrina in the circle really helped us stay in the game. It was a fun one.”