Local Sports

Jul 8, 2017

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON BCLUW senior Samantha Ubben, left, celebrates with senior Macy Kock after the Comets won their Class 2A Region 3 semifinal game against South Hamilton on Friday 4-1. With the win, BCLUW moves on to face Waterloo Columbus on Monday with a trip to the state tournament on the line.

CONRAD Once again a standing room only crowd was on hand to watch the Class 2A No. 12 BCLUW softball team play their Class 2A Region 8 semifinal match against No. 13 South Hamilton on Friday night, and both the Comets and Hawks fans were treated to a great, tight game from both teams.

In the end, BCLUW came away victorious, defeating South Hamilton 4-1 and earning a second-straight trip to the Regional Finals match with a trip to the State Tournament on the line.

Comets head coach David Lee said his girls played an outstanding game against a team that beat them earlier this season.

I thought our game was complete tonight, Lee said after the win. Offensively I thought we were right on the edge, we took the extra base when we could just look at the number of close plays if you want to see about that and they have great arms. We beat some throws from people who have great arms. We know we have to challenge people but we have to push the envelope because thats how we get runs once in a while.

Both teams got off to a slow start at the plate on Friday, with BCLUW (29-8) starting pitcher Samantha Ubben fanning the first three batters for the Hawks and South Hamilton (20-9) pitcher Taylor Volkmann retiring her first three batters faced.

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON BCLUW sophomore Easton Swanson slides around the tag at third base as she knocked down the first Comets hit of the game in the second inning of their 4-1 win over South Hamilton to advance to the Class 2A Region 3 finals match on Monday.

It was a similar setup in the second inning, with Ubben pitching yet another 1-2-3 inning on two ground outs and a fly ball, but after a strikeout from Comets first baseman Jordyn Beeghly to start the bottom of the second, sophomore Easton Swanson stepped up to the plate and belted a triple to get the offense rolling.

Senior Sara Sharp brought Swanson home in the ensuing at bat with a single, her first of three hits on the night for BCLUW. After the game, Sharp said she was knew it was a big moment for her in this game and she was ready to step up for her team.

I just got up to bat and I knew I had to get the job done, she said. I knew we had to score some runs in order to do what we needed to do.

Runs were at a premium all night, but after yet another extra-base hit from senior Leah Yantis in the third and an RBI single from Ubben, the Comets found themselves in a slightly comfortable lead up 2-0 after three innings played.

That comfort soon dissipated, however, as BCLUW was trapped in a bases-loaded jam in the top of the fourth with no outs, but after a discussion at the plate between Lee and his infield the girls got back on track and minimized the damage, allowing South Hamilton their only run of the night in the inning.

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON Comets seniors Samantha Ubben and Sara Sharp attempt to tag out South Hamilton senior Alissa Moss during the fourth inning.

We really dug ourselves a hole there in the fourth, we had an error and they just had two bloop hits that we couldnt get to, Lee said. I thought Sam really bore down, we gave up one run there but boy we could have given up a bunch. Jenna (Willett) made a great play on that one ball in center field too.

Both teams went scoreless again for the next two innings, but the Comets were able to give themselves some insurance in the sixth, with Beeghley starting off the frame with a standing double, Swanson laying down a sacrifice bunt to score pinch runner Kiersten Kruse from second, and Sharp knocking in her second extra-base hit of the night, later being driven home by a single from catcher Kate Goecke.

Everybody stepped up a little bit, Lee said of his teams effort. Sara hit the ball, Swanson hit the ball. Sara made a great play here at third base at the end where she bobbled the ball but still was able to get the out, and that was one where we needed it.

The errors, whether at the plate or in the field, didnt seem to effect the team. The team just stepped up and made the next play, whatever it had to be. That is what I am so pleased with the kids about.

Ubben pitched a complete game for BCLUW, giving up only one run off four hits and striking out nine. Sharp went 3-for-3 offensively with an RBI and a run scored, while Ubben and Swanson each had a hit and an RBI.

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON

The Comets get a bit longer of a rest than the last couple weeks now, as they have two days off before taking on Columbus Catholic for the 2A Region 3 crown Monday night.

Lee said, though they have an extra day to prepare, the teams approach to this finals match wont be any different than what theyve done all season.

We will do what we have been doing all year, he said. We will actually take Saturday off, we wont do anything then and we will practice on Sunday night when it is cooler. Then we will do what weve done on Monday morning and get ready to go play the game. We are kind of in a little pattern with what we do to get ready so we will stay with that.

That game against Columbus Catholic is set for a 7 p.m. start in Waterloo on Monday.

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Originally posted here:

Comets clip Hawks in semifinals - Marshalltown Times Republican