Season Finale Rally
City softball league crowns tourney champs, awards players in memory of former CC star
Press photos by John Burbridge Players from Prichard Law Office (blue) and DFS/USA (pink) exchange high-fives after their Pixie League championship game.
The Cambrex Comets hung on to defeat the PnK Comettes, 14-12, in the Minor League championship of the Charles City Girls’ Softball League Tournament. Players included Morgan Haus, Carly Stevenson, Brianna Ross, Allie Cross, Kaylie Banks, Lajoya Richards, Amber Smith, Jessica Foster, Elisabeth Oelson, Alexis Kirsch and Alyvia Vance. They were coached by Brian Ross, Michelle Stevenson and Jennifer Cross.
Prichard Law Office capped a perfect season when defeating DFS/USA, 14-0, in the Pixie League championship of the Charles City Girls’ Softball League Tournament. Players included Maggie Boss, Emma Prichard, Payton Hadley, Emma Miller, Brynn Roethler, Lilly Stough, Emillee Sande, Abby Assink, Lauren Staudt, Shelby Field and Natalie Keys. They were coached by Jeff Hadley, Mike Miller, Brody Boss and Dan Assink.
Dairy Queen took first place in the T-ball League bracket with First Citizens National Bank placing second. Players included Miyah Stevenson, Jillian Mehmen, Sophie Alinea, Braelynn Painter, Jacy Hall, Addison Ellis, Riley Freund, Joslin Bonstetter, Ellie Lantz, Jaclyn Knudsen, Ayla McCabe and Katie Haglund. They were coached by Michelle Stevenson, Heather Schilling, Alicia Painter and Sig Alinea.
Anya Ruzicka was the Pixie League recipient of the Sandra Kay Schmidt Memorial Award. Also pictured are Schmidt’s nephew Corey Schmidt and sister Virginia Schallock.
Contributed photo Avery Wohlers was the T-ball League recipient of the Sandra Kay Schmidt Memorial Award. Also pictured are Schmidt’s relatives Cade and Corey Schmidt.
By John Burbridge
sports@charlescitypress.com
CHARLES CITY — In the Minor League championship game of the Charles City Girls’ Softball League Tournament, the Cambrex Comets jumped out to a 10-1 lead after the first two innings against the PnK Comettes.
But 10 runs weren’t going to win this game.
Sure enough, the PnK Comettes showed why they were the league’s regular-season champs as they rallied back and had the bases loaded with the tying and winning runs aboard in the final inning. But the Cambrex Comets held on and won, 14-12.
To paraphrase the late, great Chicago Cubs broadcaster Jack Brickhouse, “Exhale, Cambrex Comets fans.”
During the season-finale tournament held Sunday at the softball diamonds within Sportsmen’s Park, the Cambrex Comets — despite their 11-2 overall record — were the only tournament champions who weren’t the regular-season champs.
In the preceding Pixie League championship game, Prichard Law Office capped an undefeated season with a 14-0 win over DFS/USA.
And T-ball League regular-season champs Dairy Queen ended up atop the three-team tourney bracket over runner-up First Citizens National Bank and third-place finisher McDonald’s.
At the conclusion of each championship game, a player from each respective division was awarded the Sandra Kay Schmidt Memorial Award.
Sandra was a four-year varsity pitcher for Charles City, and helped lead the “Comettes” to the school’s first appearance in the state tournament in 1975.
She later coached local youth softball. In 1981, Sandra was killed in an automobile accident.
The annual award goes to the player who best displays good attitude, desire and determination to play one’s best unselfishly while giving moral support to teammates and coaches. All-star ability is not a requirement, but a player may only receive the award once.
Candidates are chosen by opposing coaches who are not allowed to nominate their own players.
From the pool of candidates, the league board picks one players for each division.
This year’s recipients were Avery Wohlers (T-ball), Anya Ruzicka (Pixie) and Toni Malloy (Minor).
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