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Comets rout Indians, 12-0; improve to 11-1 in NEIC

Press photo by John Burbridge Cora Crooks hits a 2-RBI single against Waukon starter Lauren Elliott (No. 6) during an 8-run rally in the second inning.
Press photo by John Burbridge
Cora Crooks hits a 2-RBI single against Waukon starter Lauren Elliott (No. 6) during an 8-run rally in the second inning.
By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — When it rains it pours.

Maybe more figuratively than literally, especially when you talk about Charles City’s no mercy … or rather mercy-rule beckoning offense.

Darkened clouds and a dismal forecast moved up the scheduling of the varsity game during Monday’s varsity/jayvee softball doubleheader featuring Northeast Iowa Conference rivals Waukon and the hosting Comets.

Though there was a light shower before the game, it soon diminished to a sprinkle that had no threat of ending the game early.

The same couldn’t have been said about the Comets.

In yet another contest that came up short of 18 total outs, the Class 4A No. 1-ranked Comets made quick work of the Indians in a 12-0 final.

Waukon, which nearly stunned the Comets in the latter game of a May 31 doubleheader when Anika Headington’s grand-slam in the bottom of the seventh suddenly pulled them within a run before losing 7-6, matched zeroes with the Comets through the first inning.

But then Charles City rallied for 8 runs in the second inning.

Like the light rain, the Comet runs came in like a trickle. There were several walks, stolen bases, several infield singles good for RBIs … the biggest blow was Cora Crooks’s 2-RBI single.

It was the third inning when the thunder came — or when the lightning struck twice in a row twice in a row.

For the second-straight game dating back to Saturday’s Joe Campbell Invitational 10-0 win over Clear Lake, future NIACC Trojan teammates Ciana Sonberg and Tayler Schmidt hit back-to-back homers.

Sonberg’s was a 3-run shot that cleared the fence in right-center field. Schmidt’s was a solo blast high into the trees behind the left-field foul pole.

For Sonberg, who had an RBI single the inning before, it was her fourth of the season. For Schmidt, it was her team-leading seventh.

The solo homer, which ended the game with one out in the bottom of the third, may have been enough to win the game anyway.

Comet junior Sami Heyer was pretty much unhittable during her three-inning stint against the Indians. Yeah, she did give up a hit … a bunt single. But other than that, a pop-up caught by catcher Kelby Katcher about 15 feet from home plate was the farthest ball hit against Heyer, who struck out eight of the nine Indian outs recorded while improving her record to 17-1

Lisabeth Fiser had two bunt singles that scored runs, Ashlyn Hoeft had a RBI single, and Katcher had a single and a sacrifice fly for the Comets, who improved to 23-2 overall and 11-1 in the NEIC.

With six conference games left, Charles City is in the “catbird seat” when it comes to defending its NEIC title.

Both New Hampton and Waverly-Shell Rock had three conference losses going into this week. Charles City will play hosting New Hampton at Mikkelson Park in a doubleheader on Thursday.

The following Tuesday (June 26), the Comets will host Oelwein in a doubleheader — the Huskies are 0-9 in the NEIC.

Then Charles City will close out its NEIC schedule with a doubleheader at Decorah on June 28 — the Vikings are 2-9 in the NEIC

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