Comets inflict damage during DH sweep of Cadets

By John Burbridge
sports@charlescitypress.com
NEW HAMPTON — The Charles City Comets did a lot of damage with their bats while jumping out to an early lead in the first game of Tuesday’s Northeast Iowa Conference doubleheader against Crestwood.

On the field and off.

While rallying for 3 runs in the first inning and 5 runs in the second on way to an 11-2 win, Comet batters pelted several cars parked adjacent to Mikkelson Park’s nearby swimming pool with fouled off pitches — one of which shattered a back window.

(With the subject of safety netting at ballparks being recently raised, there probably should be measures taken to avoid foul-ball injuries to unsuspecting swimming pool patrons at the park when a baseball game is in progress.)

In the second game, the Comets waited until late in the game to do most of their damage there.

Down 5-2 going into the bottom of the sixth, the Comets rallied for 4 runs on way to winning 6-5 to complete the “home” DH sweep against the Cadets.

JJ Ritter hit a two-out 2-RBI double to tie the game before Cole Reams drove him home with an RBI single, which proved to be the winning run after Reams — in a relief role — sent the Cadets down in order in the top half of the seventh.

The wins got Charles City back to .500 overall (11-11) while improving its NEIC record to 10-5.

In the first game, junior left-hander Elliott Sinwell got the win after scattering 3 hits in four-and-one-third innings. The only run scored off him, which came in the first inning, was unearned.

As for the Comets, they earned all of their 11 runs in the first while pounding out 13 hits — four of them for extra bases.

Leadoff hitter Colton Slinger and Reams each had three hits in the first game, Ritter had two including the first of his two doubles on the night, and Atticus Parrott clubbed a solo shot for his team-leading third home run of the season.

Jace Cajthaml doubled in 2 runs in the first game and had two hits in the second game for the Comets, who will take on Cedar Falls on Wednesday at Birdsall Park with the junior varsity game starting at 5 p.m. and the varsity game following its conclusion.