Comets fall hard to Cedar Falls, 13-1

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — You don’t get too many second chances in life, but Charles City starter Jordan Kapping was given a shot at redemption when the Comets hosted Cedar Falls, Wednesday in non-conference baseball action.

After retiring the leadoff man, Kapping gave up a series of walks while trying to find a tight strike zone and also hit a batter. That prompted Comets coach Tyler Downing to relieve him with Nate Lasher before the inning was over.

Kapping was charged with three runs on no hits in 2/3rds of inning pitched — for the time being.

After Cedar Falls scored six in the second to take a 9-0 lead, Kapping — who was moved to first after being pulled — was put back on the mound in the third and for the most part pitched much better.

But the Cedar Falls Tigers weren’t “Paper Tigers” as they managed to stay in control on way to winning 13-1 in a game stopped after five innings.

Cedar Falls sophomore Andrew Sandvold had his best day at the plate this season while going 3-for-3 with three runs batted in and two runs scored. His final hit of the day — a two-run double in the sixth — helped shorten the game after Charles City pulled within nine runs in the fourth with the score 10-1 at the time.

Connor Schultz also had three hits, a double and three RBIs for the Tigers, who improved to 16-12 this season.

Alex Mong picked up the win after striking out five with no walks in five innings. He was cruising along pitching no-hit ball through three innings thanks to several outstanding defensive plays.

But Comet leadoff hitter Tyler Brockney greeted Mong in the fourth with a line-shot double that split the left and center fielders. Lasher followed with a single, moving Brockney to third before Brady Sickman’s fielder’s choice drove him home for the Comets’ only run.

Kapping and Noah Schlader also touched Mong for back-to-back hits in the fifth, but Charles City was unable to score the three runs needed to prevent the game from being shortened.

The Comets fell to 7-11, and things don’t look to get easier for them. They will travel to New Hampton on Friday for a doubleheader against the Northeast Iowa Conference leading Chickasaws.