By Kohlton Kober
Index Sports Writer
The West Liberty softball team secured two wins out of their five matchups last week, grabbing wins over Davenport Central and West Branch while falling twice to Iowa city Regina and once to Independence.
The Comets struggled against the Regals in the first game of their doubleheader. Despite scoring one in the top of the first inning to take an early lead, the Comets were held to one hit as the Regals managed to push across runners in the second and fourth to take a 2-1 victory in a slow first matchup.
The second game saw a return to form for both teams in the scoring department.
Iowa City Regina scored first in the bottom of the first inning before the Comets joined the fray with a three-run home run off the bat of junior Ady Bell.
The Regals closed the game in the fifth inning, pushing across a run before blowing the contest open in the bottom of the sixth with three runs to claim a 5-3 victory in the second game, and third meeting on the team of the season.
On Thursday, the Comets traveled to West Branch to take on the Bears to close out the season series.
The Comets soared early, pushing across a pair of runs before a relentless Bear attack saw the score return to even in the second inning.
West Liberty managed to force their opponents into hibernation for the reminder of the contest, allowing no additional runs while scoring four of their own, two of which coming in the top of the sixth inning to take a 6-2 victory.
Friday’s tournament matchup at the Rick Doran Classic in Iowa City were cancelled due to rain.
Upon the team’s return to the diamond on Saturday, the Comets matched up against Independence.
The Mustang defense stood firm in the face of the Comets, allowing just on hit as the Comets fell 1-0 in their first matchup of the day.
In their second game, the Comets faced off against a familiar non-conference foe in Davenport Central. Looking to avenge the loss earlier in the season, the Blue Devils raged to a fiery start, plating three runs in the top of the first inning.
West Liberty managed to claw back one run in the bottom of the second inning before exploding for five in the bottom of the fourth.
The remainder of the game passed uneventfully as neither team managed another run as the Comets cruse to a 6-3 victory.
The Comets moved to 17-9 on the season and will finish their regular season on Friday against City High before heading to post season play on the 11th.
West Liberty, ranked 11th in 3A, is the top dog in its half of the bracket. The Comets will open play against Anamosa and have a potential semifinal matchup against the winner of Solon and Vinton-Shellsburg.
Fourth-ranked Mount Vernon looms large in the top half of this regional bracket. Standing in the Mustangs’ way are Union Community, Center Point-Urbana and Monticello.
Season statistical summary
Batting average
Pearson Hall, .440; Sully Hall, .429; Mallory Wulf, .426; Brynn Cassady, .326; Kiley Collins, .275; Kylee Daufeldt, .274; Ady Bell, .250; Charlie Howard, .226; Jayleen Kivi, .205; Paige Werling, .189; Maelyn Wainwright, .136.
On base percentage
Pearson Hall, .600; Sully Hall, .537; Mallory Wulf, .530; Ady Bell, .433; Kylee Daufeldt, .430; Brynn Cassady, .412; Kiley Collins, .396; Jayleen Kivi, .375; Paige Werling, .358; Charlie Howard, .351; Maelyn Wainwright, .227.
Extra base hits
Sully Hall, 17; Brynn Cassady, 9; Kiley Collins, 9; Ady Bell, 5; Kylee Daufeldt, 4; Maelyn Wainwright, 4; Pearson Hall, 3; Mallory Wulf, 2; Charlie Howard, 2; Paige Werling, 1.
Slugging percentage
Sully Hall, .792; Pearson Hall, .640; Brynn Cassady, .483; Mallory Wulf, .456; Kiley Collins, .450; Ady Bell, .353; Kylee Daufeldt, .329; Charlie Howard, .290; Paige Werling, .208; Jayleen Kivi, .205; Maelyn Wainwright, .203.
Walks
Ady Bell, 19; Kylee Daufeldt, 17; Sully Hall, 15; Paige Werling, 14; Mallory Wulf, 13; Brynn Cassady, 11; Pearson Hall, 10; Kiley Collins, 10; Jayleen Kivi, 10; Maelyn Wainwright, 5; Charlie Howard, 4.
Stolen bases
Sully Hall, 17; Brynn Cassady, 13; Liv Garcia, 9; Kiley Collins, 7; Charlie Howard, 5; Kylee Daufeldt, 5; Paige Werling, 4; Pearson Hall, 3; Ady Bell, 3; Vivian Cardona, 2.
Pitcher ERA
Mallory Wulf, 2.75; Kylee Daufeldt, 3.87.
Pitcher WHIP
Mallory Wulf, 1.39; Kylee Daufeldt, 1.62.