There will be fans: Comets to host among the first games with spectators since lockdown

By John Burbridge
sports@charlescitypress.com
CHARLES CITY — As with most new venues holding their first events, the recently built Charles City Sports Complex is due to set an initial attendance record when the Comets softball team hosts Decorah next Monday (June 15) in its home opener.

And it may not be just at a local level.

The Northeast Iowa Conference softball game is going to be among the first sporting events in the world to allow fans since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down most of the globe in mid-March.

Several professional sport leagues have since rebooted while holding events with no fans. A few auto racing tracks have held events with fans, including the Independence Motor Speedway, which hosted fan-attended races this past weekend.

But the Comets’ home softball game against the Vikings, and home baseball game against New Hampton on June 16 will be among the first “ball sports” to be graced with spectators during this gradual reopening.

They will also be among the first high school sporting events in the country to start play again — Iowa is the only state with summer prep sports.

Coming off a season where they lost a heartbreaker in the Class 4A semifinals of the State Softball Championships before bouncing back to win the third-place consolation game, the Comets normally attract big crowds — especially for openers.

“We anticipate a big turnout,” Charles City head softball coach Brian Bohlen said. “One of the things we wanted for the new field that we had for our old one was the four-foot fence so fans can stand around the field like at our old home games.

“There is a lot of open space around the field … places where people can spread out.”

Bohlen says it has been a sustained community effort in getting ready for the belated opener.

“I need to express that we couldn’t have done it without the support of the school employees, the coaches, the parents … and even the players,” he said.

Like the Comet softball team, Charles City’s baseball team also had a deep run into the postseason last year. After vanquishing arch-rival Waverly-Shell Rock in the Class 3A-Substate 3 semifinals, the Comets lost to eventual state champion Xavier in the finals.

“Every game might be our last game of the season,” Charles City Comet baseball coach Tyler Downing said.

“It’s been a roller coaster,” Downing said about the fluctuating updates and guidelines. “It changes from day to day. We’re doing our best in taking precautions and getting ready for that first game. But we know it can be shut down at any minute.”

Both seasons have been condensed with the Comet softball team due to play 15 regular-season games and the Comet baseball team due to play 16 regular-season games.

The baseball team will play a doubleheader-laden schedule with DHs against NEIC opponents.