Comets break Mustangs 3-0 in softball opener

By John Burbridge 

sports@charlescitypress.com 

CHARLES CITY — Longtime Comet softball head coach Brian Bohlen has given opposing pitchers and defenses fair warning.

“Offensively, this is one of the most talented teams that I’ve ever coached here,” said Bohlen, who has already coached some potent offenses during his 23-season, 500-plus-win tenure at Charles City.

But during their season- and home-opener Tuesday against Independence, the Comets leaned primarily on their solid defense backing up their resident flame-throwing ace before rallying late for a 3-0 shutout victory.

Comet eighth-grader Lexan Josilin’s suicide squeeze bunt scored freshman Jacy Hall for the game’s first run in the bottom of the sixth.

Freshman Addison Ellis followed with a 2-RBI single chasing home senior Payton Hadley and Hall for the remaining runs of the game.

Picking up right from her dominant eighth-grade varsity season in the pitcher’s circle, Ellis went the distance for the 2-hitter while striking out 14, walking one and hitting a batter.

Charles City had the bases loaded with no outs in the bottom of the fifth, but failed to score a run due to a pop-up, strikeout and a bunt fielded on the fly by the charging third baseman keeping the game scoreless through five.

“I told the girls that this game was going to come down to who makes the least number of mistakes,” Bohlen said. “And that’s what happened … our defense and pitching were excellent.

“Our bats will come around. It’s just a matter of confidence and being more aggressive.”

The Comets (1-0) will travel to Clear Lake on Thursday, and to Cedar Falls on Friday.

On Saturday, Charles City will host the Jerry Newton Classic.

The Comets are scheduled to play Clarksville at 9 a.m. and Beckman Catholic at 1 p.m.