Chickasaws steal Comets’ thunder

New Hampton contains CC’s big bats while winning NEIC softball matchup, 8-3

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — No lead is safe against the Charles City softball team.

But in game with a backdrop of pulsating lightning in the distance but no thunder, the heart of the Comets’ usually potent lineup was for the most part silent as the visiting New Hampton Chickasaws cooled them off with 8-3 Northeast Iowa Conference victory Wednesday night at Sportsmen’s Park

Chickasaw sophomore Savannah Anderson held the Comets hitless the first time through their lineup and managed to pitch out of bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh to secure the complete-game victory. Anderson struck out six, walked three and was touched for eight hits in seven innings of work.

She got a lift from battery mate Kallie Olson, whose home run in the fourth inning helped the Chickasaws take a 6-0 lead.

Charles City rallied for three runs in its half of the fourth. The big blow was starting pitcher Megan Roethler double deep to left-center field chasing home Tayler Schmidt who previously singled.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Megan Staudt and Shae Etherington singled in order before Schmidt walked to load the bases.

Just as it seemed like the pending storm was about to erupt, it looked as if the Comets were going to produce some pyrotechnics themselves.

But Anderson struck out the next two Comet batters in order to end the game.

Bailey Mitchell was 3-for-3 with a RBI, and Etherington had two hits for the Comets, who fell to 10-4 and 4-3 in the NEIC.

Roethler took the loss after striking out seven and yielding four earned runs and nine hits in seven innings.

Abby Gossling, Emma Nicolaison and Katerine Hemesath each had two hits for the Chickasaws (7-5, 4-3).

Charles City is not due to play again until next Monday (June 13) when it hosts Decorah.

NEW HAMPTON 8, CHARLES CITY 3

Scoring By Innings

NH 003 302 0 — 8 9 2

CC 000 300 0 — 3 8 4

WP — Savannah Anderson (NH) 7 IN, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO.

LP — Megan Roethler (CC) 7 IN, 9 H, 8 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO.

Leading Hitters — Charles City: Shae Etherington (2-4, run scored), Bailey Mitchell (3-3, RBI), Roethler (2B, RBI); New Hampton: Abby Gossling (2-4, 2 runs scored), Emma Nicolaison (2-3, 2 RBIs, run scored), Katheringe Hemesath (2-3, 2 RBIs), Kallie Olson (HR).