The West Liberty High School girls softball team won four of their five matchups this week, starting with a double header victory over Durant on June 21, before besting Cascade Thursday, June 24. The Comets closed their week with a victory over neighboring rival Iowa City Regina at the Clear Creek Amana Tournament before falling to Carlisle.
The Comets of coach Chad Libby sit at 16-6 overall and 11-4 in River Valley Conference action, ranked ninth in Class 3A.
West Liberty made quick work of the Wildcats in game one last week, dispatching Durant via the mercy rule in four innings aided by a six-run second inning to win 13-0.
Junior Sailor Hall got the win in the shortened contest, fanning six and giving up just one hit. She also went two for three at the plate, driving in 4 RBI’s to lead the Comets.
The second matchup of the night transpired in a similar way. While the Wildcats offered more resistance offensively, pushing across runs in the first and seventh, the Comets five run second and three run seventh proved too much for the Wildcats to handle, falling 9-2 in the second contest.
Janey Gingerich pitched a complete game, striking out three in the process on five hits while giving up two earned runs. The senior helped her own cause by going three for three in the batter's box providing two runs of support. Sailor Hall matched her four runs from the first contest in the second, driving in four more RBI’s in the nightcap.
The Comets then played host to Cascade Thursday, scoring two runs in the first inning, and taking command through the remainder of the game. The Comets added an addition run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to take the 5-1 victory.
Sailor Hall pitched four innings as the junior struck out three and gave up just three hits. Janey Gingerich came in for the close, fanning an additional three Cougars while allowing four hits and one earned run.
On Friday, in what was to be day one of a two-day tournament in Oxford, the Comets took on the rival Regals of Iowa City Regina. Having already fallen to the Regals twice earlier this season, looking to get their revenge for an earlier season loss.
The Comets wasted no time in the matchup, jumping ahead 2-0 in the first inning. The Regals got back a run in the top of the second which was answered by the Comets in the bottom on the inning to maintain their two-run advantage after two innings.
Following another run by the Regals in the third, the Comets were able put the game away by driving across four runs in their half of the frame to take the 7-2 lead. The two teams traded blows for the remainder of the game as the Regals were unable to overcome the deficit, ending in a 9-5 Comet victory. Sailor Hall and Janey Gingerich combined for five strikeouts on seven hits. Isabel Morrison and Pearson Hall led the Comet bats both driving in two RBI a piece.
The last game of the day was against Carlisle. Bats were hot for the Wildcats, as they pushed across six runs in the second inning while holding the Comets scoreless.
They added one more in the third as the Comets managed to cut into the lead scoring two of their own but Carlisle scored two more in the fourth and one in the fifth. A four run fifth for the Comets proved not enough as they fell to the Wildcats 10-6.
Janey Gingerich and Sailor Hall once again combined in the contest, fanning two while allowing 12 hits. Finley Hall and Kylie Struck both drove in two runs for the Comets in the defeat.
Saturdays matchups against West Branch and Clear Creek Amana were cancelled due to rain.
The Comets will continue their season Thursday, July 1, in Camanche before spending Friday and Saturday at the University of Iowa complex, playing in the Iowa City West Invite.
Post season play to begin
The Comets will then move into the post season with hopes of making it to the state tournament, taking on visiting Mid-Prairie in the first round of the Class 3A Region 8 tournament on Tuesday beginning at 7 p.m.
If victorious, West Liberty will play the winner of Knoxville and PCM at West Liberty’s facility behind the West Liberty Elementary School beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 9, with hopes of getting to the title game for the Regional Championship on July 13 at 7 p.m., with the site unknown.
The other side of the bracket includes West Burlington who opens against Columbus as well as Davis County, who plays Central Lee in the opening round. West Liberty is the highest ranked team in the Regional.