Comets grind out wins over Wolverines, Saints

By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

DIKE — Earl Weaver often said that the best play in baseball is the 3-run home run.

Problem is that with the required high school use of BBCOR bats that limit the “trampoline effect” of balls off the barrel have made 3-run homers, as well as any homer, about as rare as an unassisted triple-play.

So when Charles City senior Dylan Salinas jacked a solo homer to left field in the top of the seventh during Friday’s non-conference relocated road game against Dike-New Hartford, it was a special occasion.

Not only was it the first homer hit by a Comet this season, it was the first Charles City home run in three seasons by someone other than 2017 graduate Drew Mitchell.

It also had somewhat of an impact on the game.

The Comets, who trailed 4-1 through four innings, were down by a run (6-5) going into the top of the seventh before Salinas’s shot tied it.

The next batter, Jace Cajthami, got hit by a pitch before advancing two stations up to third base and then scored on a wild pitch to put the Comets up.

With Salinas now on the mound in relief in the bottom of seventh, he managed to get the first two Wolverines out but couldn’t prevent Ben Freese from tying the game with an RBI single to force extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, Cole Reams hit a bases-loaded two-out double to right field, driving in 2 runs.

Salinas and company then shut the door in the bottom half of the inning for the win.

Theo Arndt, who started the game for the Comets, had a double and two runs scored.

Reece Beuter had three hits, including a double for the Wolverines.

The game originally was to be played in Charles City, but heavy morning rainfall flooded the field at Sportsmen’s Park and forced the relocation.

The Comets also were to host Saint Ansgar on Saturday, but again the game was relocated.

Trailing 7-4 going into the top of the sixth, the Comets rallied for 6 runs on way to winning 10-8.

Cajthami was 5 for 5 with a triple and 3 runs batted in. He also got credited for the win after pitching a scoreless inning.

Salinas had 2 hits, including a double, and 2 runs batted in; Colton Slinger had 2 hits, including a double, and scored twice; Reams had two hits and scored twice; Tait Arndt had a 2-run double; and Theo Arndt doubled and scored a run for the Comets, who improved to 5-4 overall after the two wins.