Comets dominate own tournament, go 3-0

By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — They need to institute a “Sami Heyer Rule”.

It goes like this: Whenever the Charles City ace is in the circle, opposing teams whose dugout is along the first-base line must have their on-deck hitters either sufficiently shielded or stationed further away — about where the first-base coach normally patrols — whenever a right-handed batter is at the plate.

The rule would be conversely be in effect for opposing teams occupying the third-base side dugout when a left-handed hitter is up.

Seriously. Someone is going to get hurt.

As of now the safest place to be if you don’t want to be struck by a ball batted off a blazing Heyer fastball is left field. Not too many hitters (right-handed ones) get the bat around to hit it out there.

That may be the reason why Charles City left the area vacant while opting for a defensive alignment consisting of five infielders and just two outfielder during its Comet Softball Tournament game against North Butler, Saturday at Sportsmen’s Park.

In an earlier meeting against the Bearcats, the Comets — with Heyer starting and finishing — used the same shift against the right-handed hitters.

As was the case Saturday as it was then, North Butler didn’t make the Comets pay as Heyer had her heater at a high setting while striking out 12 in just five innings for a Charles City 10-0 victory — its third of the day.

Mind you, North Butler has a potent lineup consisting of some outstanding athletes. The Bearcats came into the tournament hitting nearly .400 as a team.

But against Heyer, they were clearly outmatched.

Molly Adelmund’s single to center field — actually to left-center field to give her more credit — was North Butler’s only hit of the game as it broke up a perfect game in the fifth inning.

Nonetheless, Heyer — who walked none — ended up facing the minimum amount of batters in five innings as Adelmund was subsequently thrown out by Comet catcher Kelby Katcher during a steal attempt.

No Comet homered against North Butler … but even a triple proved to be OK as Charles City senior Tayler Schmidt cleared the bases with a three-bagger to help put the Comets up 6-0 through two innings.

Schmidt also displayed uncanning bat control while laying down an impromptu bunt single later in the game. While protecting the plate with two strikes, Schmidt got fooled by a change-up by Bearcat pitcher Alex Mathers. Instead of taking an unbalanced hack at it or taking it for strike three, Schmidt had the presence to bunt the ball in play before easily beating the “no-throw” to first base.

Ciana Sonberg had a pair of doubles in the win over the Bearcats.

Earlier, Schmidt was the winning pitcher in a 9-3 victory over Iowa Falls-Alden that was called after six innings due to tournament time-limit rules.

Sophomore Alex Litterer got the start in the Comets’ first game of the tournament and picked up her second win of the season in a one-sided victory over West Hancock that was called after three innings.

The three tourney victories improved the Class 4 No. 3-ranked Comets to 12-1 overall.

Next up for Charles City is a home non-conference game against Forest City.