Comets overpower Chickasaws 10-0 in NEIC softball matchup

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

NEW HAMPTON ­— There wasn’t a more perilous place to be than in the first base-side on-deck circle when the New Hampton Chickasaws hosted the Charles City Comets and their eighth-grade ace pitcher Addison Ellis during Thursday’s Northeast Iowa Conference softball game.

Especially when a right-handed hitter was in the batter’s box.

Ellis had many of the Chickasaws swinging later than Allen Iverson showing up for a morning practice.

Fortunately, many swung and missed as Ellis struck out 14 during the Comets’ 10-0 win that went the seven-inning distance.

And fortunately again, many of the hard-hit foul balls didn’t draw any flesh and bone.

As for the Comets, they hit some hard-hit fair balls, including the team’s first home run of the season.

Senior Alex Wohlers drove a pitch from NH sophomore starter Chloe Weigel over the left field fence for a solo shot extending the Comets’ lead to 4-0 in the third inning after they rallied for 3 runs in the first.

Wohlers also had an RBI single during Charles City’s 4-run rally in the sixth that extended the lead to 8-0.

Comet junior shortstop Brooklyn Molitor had two hits including a double; junior leadoff hitter Emerson Bohlen had two hits and reached base four times with a pair of walks; Keely Collins, who has returned to play softball her senior year after a one-season hiatus, had two hits and an RBI; and junior Payton Hadley had a hit and chased a couple of runners home during the 4-run sixth when her deep flyball to right-center field was misplayed into a three-base error for Charles City (4-1, 1-0 NEIC), which will travel to North Fayette Valley this weekend for a two-day tournament.

After Ellis and company held NH hitless through three innings, the Chickasaws looked like they might chip into the Comets’ 4-0 lead during their half of the fourth inning.

Cora Schwickerath led off with a double followed by Maici Weber’s infield single. With two on and no outs, NH freshman Caycee Crawford drove a sinking line drive into right field that looked as if it was going to get the Chickasaws on the board.

But Comet senior right fielder Madison Lensing got a good jump on the ball to make a basket catch and double Schwickerath off at second base.

New Hampton still managed to pose a threat that inning with a pair or runners in scoring position, but Ellis struck out counterpart Weigel for the final out of the fourth inning.

The Chickasaws were only able to get three more runners on base for the rest of the game before suffering their first loss of the season after starting 2-0.