Comet come up 1 run short in chasing down Go-Hawks

By John Burbridge
sports@charlescitypress.com
WAVERLY — It looked like this was going to be a long night for the Charles City Comets.

Or maybe even a short one.

In the rubber game of the regular-season three-game series between the Comets and Northeast Iowa Conference rival Waverly-Shell Rock Friday at Wartburg College’s Hertel Field, the “visiting” Go-Hawks playing on their home turf jumped out to a 5-run lead in the top of the first.

When counting a fielder’s choice, the first seven Go-Hawks reached base.
Initially, it seemed that there was a good chance this game wouldn’t get past the mercy-rule zone.

But thanks to a long-relief performance by senior Carter Johanningmeier, who scattered five hits and struck out four while walking none in four innings of shutout ball, and two more scoreless innings from senior Cole Reams, the Comets nearly chased down the Go-Hawks after spotting them the big lead only to come up 1 run short in a 5-4 final.

Charles City’s relief performances were backed by solid defense as two Go-Hawks were caught stealing/picked-off, and Elliott Sinwell robbed Korby Dewey with an all-out diving catch in center field.

Sinwell, who started for the Comets, stayed in the game and also contributed offensively as he had two hits and scored a run. Atticus Parrott also had two hits, including an RBI double, and Colton Slinger drove in 2 runs with a single during a 3-run fourth which drew the Comets within 1.

Brody Key had three hits, Connor Havlovic had two, and Jeremy Chaplin had a 3-run bases-loaded triple during the first-inning rally for the Go-Hawks.

Payton Leonard got the win on the mound after yielding 3 earned runs in five innings before Chance Key closed the game with two shutout innings for Waverly Shell-Rock, which improved to 20-7 overall while seizing the lead in the NEIC with a 13-3 conference record.

Charles City, which earlier in the season split a doubleheader against Waverly-Shell Rock, fell to 11-13 and 10-6.

The Comets are due to host Central Springs at Sportsmen’s Park on Monday.

WAVERLY-SHELL ROCK 5, CHARLES CITY 4
WSR AB R H BI CC AB R H BI
Connor Havlovic 4 1 2 0 Colton Slinger 3 0 1 2
Payton Leonard 4 1 1 0 JJ Ritter 4 1 0 0
Brody Key 4 1 3 1 Cole Reams 2 0 0 0
Carter Langreck2 0 0 0 Jace Cajthaml 4 0 0 0
Jeremy Chaplin 4 1 1 3 Tait Arndt 4 0 0 0
Korby Dewey 4 0 1 1 Elliott Sinwell 4 1 2 0
C. Graven 3 0 1 0 Carter Johanningmeier 0 0 0 0
Pete McMillin 2 0 1 0 Kaden Barry 1 0 0 0
Kurby Vowels 3 0 1 0 Atticus Parrott 2 1 2 1
*Brady Ramker 0 1 0 0 Ian Collins 3 0 0 0
*Colton Crooks 0 1 0 0
TOTALS 30 5 11 5 TOTALS 27 4 5 3
WAVERLY-SHELL ROCK 500 000 0 — 5
CHARLES CITY 100 300 0 — 4
LOB–WAVERLY-SHELL ROCK 7, CHARLES CITY 8. ERR–Carson Graven, Payton Leonard, Chance Key, Brody Key. 2B–Connor Havlovic, Atticus Parrott. 3B–Jeremy Chaplin. HBP–PeteMcMillin, Carter Langreck. SB–Carson Graven, Pete McMillin.
WSR IP H R ER BB SO HR
Payton Leonard 5.00 4 4 3 6 7 0
Chance Key 2.00 1 0 0 0 1 0
CHARLES CITY
Elliott Sinwell 0.67 6 5 5 1 0 0
Carter Johanningmeier 4.00 5 0 0 0 4 0
Cole Reams 2.33 0 0 0 0 1 0
PB–Carter Langreck (3). WP–Elliott Sinwell. SO–Korby Dewey (2), Carson Graven, Carter Langreck, Jeremy Chaplin, Colton Slinger, JJ Ritter, Jace Cajthaml (2), Ian Collins (2), Tait Arndt (2). BB–Carter Langreck, Colton Slinger, Carter Johanningmeier (2), Atticus Parrott, Cole Reams (2).