Three Comets named to IGCA Class 4A All-State Softball Team

Press Staff Report
The accolades continue to pour in for the Charles City Comets in the wake of their Class 4A third-place showing at last week’s State Softball Championships.

On Thursday, three Comets — senior Sami Heyer, junior Lisabeth Fiser and freshman Rachel Chambers — were named to the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Class 4A All-State Softball Team.

Teams were determined by votes from Iowa softball coaches.

For the second season in a row, Heyer and Fiser were named to the first team. Chambers was named to the third team.

For Heyer, who will continue her softball career at the University of Northern Iowa, it was her third-straight all-state selection.

Though missing most of her freshman season while recovering from a knee injury may have prevented Heyer from recording 100 wins during high school career, she managed to lead the state in pitching wins with a 35-4 record.

In a little more than 209 innings pitched, Heyer struck out 375 batters while walking only 33. The opposition only hit .109 against her and Heyer’s earned run average was a particularly stingy 0.50.

At the plate, Heyer hit .370 with three home runs and a team-leading four triples.

Fiser, who moved to the middle infield after being a first-team all-state outfielder last season, led the Comets in a variety offensive categories as the team’s leadoff hitter, including hits (81), runs (62), stolen bases (58 out of 60 attempts), batting average (.570) and on-base percentage (.582).

A track star who placed second in the long jump during the most recent State Track and Field Championships, Fiser is also a reliable fielder while patrolling second base. Fiser’s alertness and athleticism helped the Comets win the third-place game at the State Softball Championships when she fielded a deflected line drive from a ball hit up the middle that got a piece of pitcher Heyer, and quickly threw to first for a 1-4-3 putout that got the Comets out of a jam during an international tiebreaker eighth inning against West Delaware.

Chambers took over at shortstop for the Comets this season after serving as a utility player on the varsity squad as a freshman.

Chambers also took over the cleanup spot and showed why it was a good reason to put her there. She led the Comets in home runs (15), doubles (13), RBIs (67) and slugging percentage (.960) while hitting an even .500.

A natural team leader and catalyst, Chambers often displays an unbridled enthusiam for the sport she plays — even when it’s on a winless basketball team.