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Undefeated Comets win 25th; Heyer whiffs 800th

Undefeated Comets win 25th; Heyer whiffs 800th
Press photo by John Burbridge
Charles City senior ace pitcher Sami Heyer recorded her 800th strikeout of her career and 23rd win of the season against Central Springs on Wednesday.

By John Burbridge
sports@charlescitypress.com

MANLY — Sluggers have been known to go into slumps right after multi-homer games.

Or at least “wear the collar” — meaning going hitless — the next game.

After Charles City freshman Ashlyn Hoeft struck out in her first at-bat against Central Springs ace Hannah Ausenhus, it looked as if she might be “collared” during the Comets’ non-conference away game Wednesday with the Class 2A No. 8-ranked Panthers.

Hoeft had homered twice during the Comets’ shortened victory over Saint Ansgar the night before, but after just getting a foul-tip in three swings against Ausenhus, it seemed as if Wednesday was going to be a different story.

But Hoeft made the proper adjustments during her next at-bat. After fouling off three pitches, Hoeft got one she could handle and drove it well over the left-field fence for a 3-run homer to break a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning.

The following inning, Hoeft homered again — this time on Ausenhus’s first pitch — for her seventh of the season and her second-straight multi-homer game.

When Hoeft came up again, it was the Panthers who made the adjustments — they intentionally walked her when first base became open.

Early on it seemed as if the game would be a pitching duel between Ausenhus and Charles City senior Sami Heyer as the two pitchers matched zeroes through three innings.

But after Hoeft’s first blast broke the scoreless tie, the Comets went on to win going away in an 8-1 final.

It improved Charles City’s undefeated record to 25-0. It also was Heyer’s state-leading 23rd win of the season.

Heyer also reached a milestone during the game by recording her 800th career strikeout.

Not wanting to be Heyer’s 801st victim, Panther sophomore Abigayle Angell touched Heyer with a solo home run right after Heyer’s feat was acknowledged for Central Springs’ lone run in the fifth inning.

Rachel Chambers, who leads the Comets with 10 home runs, had two bunt singles included with her three hits for the day.
Lydia Staudt had two hits for the Comets, and so did junior leadoff hitter Liz Fiser when crediting her with a double to lead off the game — it was a hard-hit ball that sailed over the left fielder, who got a glove on it and, thus, was initially charged with an error.

And while we’re in official-scorekeeper-be-damned mode, let’s give Comet sophomore Sadie Gebel an RBI triple which capped the scoring in the sixth inning.

Gebel drilled a low lazer that ate up the Panthers’ right fielder with an in-between hop which allowed the ball to roll all the way to the fence.

Another ranked team will get a shot at blemishing the Comets’ still-perfect record when New Hampton (No. 13 in Class 3A) hosts the Northeast Iowa Conference matchup on Thursday.

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