Comets go 4-0 at NFV Softball Tournament

Press Staff Report

WEST UNION — After going through its share of fits and starts while ushering in the new season, Charles City’s offense finally caught on fire during its 10-3 Northeast Iowa Conference softball win over New Hampton last Thursday.

And the Comets stayed hot over the subsequent weekend while going 4-0 at a softball invitational hosted by North Fayette Valley at the West Union Recreational Center.

The Comets outscored the opposition 35-4 while evening their overall record at .500 (6-6).

Charles City benefitted from four complete-game pitching wins thrown by senior Natalie White and freshman Keely Anderegg.

In the Comets’ final win of the tournament — 12-0 over Turkey Valley — White pitched her first no-hitter of her varsity career while striking out six in four innings.

Senior Delaney Ruzicka had a 2-run double, and Alex Wohlers and Ava Ellis drove in 3 and 2 runs, respectively, for the Comets in their shortened win against the Trojans.

White earlier scattered five hits in a complete-game shutout over Kee (6-0) where Comet sophomore Emerson Bohlen and eighth-grader Edie Collins both went 2 for 3, and junior Madie Lensing drove in 2 runs.

The biggest win Charles City recorded over the weekend was also its closest — a 5-4 victory over Class 3A No. 11-ranked Sumner-Fredericksburg.

Charles City rallied for 5 runs in the sixth inning after trailling 4-0 to go up for good.

Anderegg struck out six, walked one and yielded seven hits as only 1 of the 4 Cougar runs scored off her was earned.

Ruzicka was 2 for 2 with 2 RBIs and a run scored against S-F.

Anderegg was the winning pitcher during Charles City’s first game of the tournament — a brief 12-0 win over the hosting NFV Tigerhawks on Friday morning — with a three-inning one-hitter.

Sophomore Payton Hadley was 2 for 2 with 3 RBIs and a run scored; junior Lauren Staudt was 2 for 2 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored; sophomore Emerson Bohlen scored 3 runs from the leadoff position; and Ellis had a 2-run double for the Comets, who will host Crestwood on Tuesday for a NEIC doubleheader starting at 5:30 p.m.