Vikings rally early while eliminating Comets from regional with 8-1 victory

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

DECORAH — Charles City and Decorah have proved themselves to be rather evenly matched this season.

They currently both have the same overall record (18-15), and though the Vikings were able to claim the outright Northeast Iowa Conference regular-season title when defeating the Comets in the first game of Monday’s doubleheader, they needed 10 innings to do it before NEIC runner-up Charles City responded to win the nightcap.

With that said, Thursday’s Class 4A-Region 8 first round game between the two conference rivals was expected to be a “barn burner”.

Didn’t happen that way as the Vikings were able to take advantage of a series of defensive miscues by the Comets in the first inning while jumping out to a 5-0 lead before cruising to the regional semifinals with an 8-1 victory.

“Yeah, we’re both similar … they have some good pitching and some good players,” Charles City veteran head coach Brian Bohlen said after his Comets dropped their fourth out of five games this season to the Vikings.

“This was just their day.”

After sending 11 hitters to the plate in the first inning, Viking freshman pitcher Clara Hjelle was able to contain the Comets the rest of the way while scattering eight hits, striking out five and walking none for the complete game win.

Senior leadoff hitter Bryar Duwe had two hits including a double, sophomore Lillian Olson had two hits and 2 RBIs, and senior Lani Hubka had two hits for the Vikings, who will travel to Epworth this Saturday to face No. 8 ranked Western Dubuque in the semifinals.

Comet juniors Alex Wohlers was 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI, and Madie Lensing was 3 for 3.

For Charles City seniors Ava Ellis, Morgan Maloy, Delaney Ruzicka and starting pitcher Natalie White, it was their last game as a Comet.

“They have all been with the team for five years … really 10 years as I watched most of them come up in youth softball,” Bohlen said. “During the summer, I see more of my softball team than my family. But you know, this team is part of my family.”