Comets fall to Cedar Falls, 9-0, for season’s first loss

By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

CEDAR FALLS — There’s a oxymoronic adage that rears up in softball and baseball claiming that home runs are notorious rally killers.

The logic behind this — half-baked as it may be — is that homers tend to clear the bases, allowing the pitcher to better concentrate on the batter and the defense to better dictate its alignment.

When Cedar Falls sophomore Tjaden Petersen hit a solo shot to start the bottom of the sixth in what was then a close game against the visiting Charles City Comets, it proved to be the start of a rally — or at least a harbinger for one — as the Tigers batted around and scored 8 runs to go up 9-0 with the game-stoppage run stranded at third before winning by the aforementioned score.

For Cedar Falls, it was its first win of the season after nine defeats.

Conversely, the Class 4A No. 2-ranked Comets suffered their first setback after starting the season 7-0 which included back-to-back doubleheader sweeps against state-ranked Northeast Iowa Conference foes Crestwood and Waverly-Shell Rock.

For Tiger starter Cyrah Rasmussen, it was a breakout performance after the eighth-grader had taken some lumps pitching at the varsity level. Against the Comets, Rasmussen scattered seven hits and struck out 10 for the shutout.

Often changing speeds and locations while taking advantage of a “wide inside black” strike zone, Rasmussen kept Charles City’s potent offense in check — in particular the top half — and keeping her cool in tough situations as the Comets stranded four runners at third base.

Comet sophomore Alex Litterer got the start, and pitched out of several jams herself, including the bottom half of the third when the Tigers loaded the bases with one out but couldn’t get anyone across.

With the score still tied at zeroes going into the bottom of the fourth, Keeley Rath led off with a double deep to center field and later scored on a wild pitch.

Petersen, who later doubled in the inning she led off with a homer, was 3 for 4.

Charles City senior Payton Reams reached base three times and had a pair of singles.

Leadoff hitter Lisabeth Fiser also had two hits for the Comets, who will travel to Waukon on Thursday for another NEIC doubleheader.