The West Liberty High School baseball team continued their season this week after splitting a two game set with Wilton, gaining a mercy rule victory over Lone Tree in Cedar Rapid and defeating West Branch in the first round of sub-state play to continue their season for another day.
The Comets moved into the post season with a first round matchup against West Branch, scoring all the runs they needed in the opening inning at Wilton.
The Bears captured their lone run in the top of the second, cutting the lead to 3-1. The Comets pushed across the final run of the game in the fifth to emerge 4-1 victors and continue their season, playing hosting Camanche on Tuesday, July 13. Should West Liberty win, the Comets play at Camanche on Saturday, July 17, beginning at 7 p.m. for the District title and an opportunity to play in the state tournament.
The week started for the Comets with their final conference matchup against Wilton. The Comets struck early, pushing across two runs in first inning. The Comets added six more on the third to take an 8-0 advantage through three innings then sealed the deal in five innings after scoring two more runs and taking the 10-0 mercy rule victory in the night’s opener. Caleb Wulf pitched a complete game no hitter, recording 12 strikeouts in their short affair allowing just two walks. He also led the Comet bats, going three for three with three RBI falling just a home run short of the cycle.
The Beavers turned the table on the Comets in the second game, jumping ahead to a 3-0 advantage after the first inning. They added two more in the third and four more in the fourth, now leading 9-0.
The Comets pushed across one run in the home half of the fifth. Both teams scored two in the seventh inning, but the Comets ultimately fell 11-3.
The Comet pitching corps of Chance Thrasher and Ty Jones combined for six strikeouts on 12 hits. Jones led the Comets at the dish, driving in two RBI and going 2-for-4 overall.
On Wednesday, July 7, the Comets played a neutral site matchup against Lone Tree at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids.
The Comets pushed across a run in the first inning, and blew the game open in the second, driving across six runs to capture the 7-1 advantage after two innings. The Comets scored one more in the third and three in the fourth. The lone Lion run in the fourth would only delay the inevitable, Comets now leading 12-3.
In the fifth inning, both teams scored a run and the Comets added three more in the sixth to seal the deal, 15-3 victors in six innings.
The Comet duo of Drake Collins and Ryan Cassady fanned seven on five hits. Wulf and Cassady had three RBI each for the Comets in their victory over the Lions.