HUXLEY The BCLUW softball team bowed twice to opponents at the Ballard Tournament on Saturday, splitting their weekend trip with losses to the host Bombers as well as Class 4A No. 11 Boone.

Ballard beat the Comets 10-0 in five innings in BCLUWs first game on Saturday, scoring in each of its four at-bats. The Comets (7-4) couldnt match that, collecting just four hits, while committing five errors on defense.

Jordyn Beeghly, Easton Swanson, Sara Sharp and Leah Yantis each had singles in the loss.

In the second game, Boone fell behind 2-0 before scoring 13 unanswered runs. The Toreadors (7-3) tallied eight runs in the top of the fifth to put the game out of reach.

BCLUWs early 2-0 lead started with a leadoff single for Yantis. Her pinch-runner Parker Scurr moved up on Jenna Willetts bunt single and scored on Samantha Ubbens sacrifice bunt. Willett eventually scored on a passed ball, but that was all the damage the Comets could do offensively.

BCLUW finished with only those two hits, while Boone racked up 12, including a home run for Lauren Calkins.

Lauren Anderson got the pitching loss in the opener, while Ubben was saddled with defeat in the second game.

BCLUW returns to action Monday with a road game at 1A No. 12 AGWSR in NICLWest Division play.

GILBERT Kallie Malloy tossed a three-hit shutout in the first win and 6 1/3 innings of one-hit relief in the ...

HOUSTON Cole Bedford hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning, Corbin Martin struck out nine in seven innings ...

The Marshalltown High School athletics fundraiser golf outing will be held June 13 at the American Legion Memorial ...

HOUSTON Mitchell Boe, Iowas No. 9 hitter, had a pair of run-scoring hits and the Hawkeyes knocked off ...

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Comets fall twice at Ballard tourney - Marshalltown Times Republican

By Toby Thorpe

for the SNAP

The North Stanly baseball team, facing elimination in the second game of the NCHSAA 1A Western Regional Series, routed the visiting Murphy Bulldogs 12-2 on Friday night at Joe D. Kelly Stadium.

Senior captain Will Moore earned the win with a complete game performance, shortened to five innings via mercy rule. He allowed only four hits, three of which came in a rocky first inning.

Over the final four frames, Moore gave up only one hit and one walk, while striking out four.

Murphy jumped to a 2-0 lead in the top half of the first. After the first two Bulldogs were retired on a flyout and a groundout respectively, Joey Curry singled, then scored when Royce Peterson followed with a double.

Starting pitcher Caleb Irwin then gave himself a two-run cushion when he singled in Peterson.

Coming to bat in the bottom of the first, North immediately showed the offensive firepower that has propelled the Comets into the states final four 1A teams.

Kolby Lamp worked Irwin for a walk, then moved to third on a double by Carson Lowder. Holden Davis tied the game with a single to left, and advanced to second on the throw home. Moore singled Davis to third, bringing Jordan Howard to bat.

Davis then scored on a wild pitch, with Moore advancing to second. Howard then coaxed a walk from Irwin, and Cobb Russell followed with a double, scoring Moore.

Down five runs with no outs, Murphy coach Adam Clonts sought to stop the bleeding by bringing starting designated hitter Travis Seabolt to the mound. Seabolt appeared up to the task as he produced a groundout and a strikeout from the first two hitters he faced.

Jacob Clayton stepped to the plate with two outs, and on a 2-2 pitch his bat tipped the catchers mitt as he delivered an apparent single, scoring Russell.

However, a balk had been called on Seabolt just prior to the pitch and the subsequent catcher obstruction violation.

As a result, Russell scored on the balk, but Clayton was returned to the batters box since the catcher obstruction occurred after the ball had become dead on the balk. Clayton eventually walked, but was cut down attempting to steal second, and the Comets took the field for the second inning up 6-2.

The Bulldogs stranded their only baserunner in the second inning.

With the top of the order up again for the bottom of the second, the Comets tallied twice more.

Lamp walked and went to third on a single to right by Lowder. Davis was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Moore hit a grounder to third, forcing Lamp at the plate, and beating the throw to first by an eyelash. Howard then delivered a two-run single, but was cut down at second attempting to stretch the hit for an extra base. Russell grounded to the mound and North was up 8-2 after two innings.

After two quick outs, Moore allowed a hit to Peterson, but got a popup from Irwin for the final out.

In the bottom of the third, the Comet offense remained hot and received some assistance from the Bulldogs as well. Hunter Sells led off with a single, but was forced at second on a grounder by Garrett Clark.

After Clayton flew out to left, Lamp ripped a line drive off the left field fence to score Clark, then moved to third on a Lowder single.

Seabolt then balked, failing to come set before delivering to the plate, bringing Lamp home and advancing Lowder to second.

Davis ripped a double to score Lowder, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on Seabolts second balk of the inning. Moore reached on another catcher obstruction call, but Howard fanned to end the inning with the Comets up 12-2.

After a pop out to start the fourth, Murphy placed runners on first and second when Lamp and Lowder committed back-to-back errors. Moore then fanned Colton Posey and got a fly out from Luke Garrett to quell the threat.

The Comets posted their only offensive goose egg in the bottom of the fourth, despite an infield single by Garrett Clark and a walk by Clayton.

Needing to keep Murphy scoreless to end the game and send the series back to Murphy, Moore showed his first signs of fatigue as he walked Bulldog Jeremiah Clark on four pitches. Curry then hit a bullet to Comet third baseman Rhett Lowder, who knocked the ball down and fired to second to force Clark. Peterson followed with a grounder to short to force Curry, after which Moore ended the game by striking out Irwin.

Asked if the team had a different mindset for this game as opposed to Thursdays contest, Comet coach Will Davis said, We just decided to go out there and have fun. We had nothing to lose.

Carson Lowder, who led the Comet offense with a three-for-three performance, echoed Daviss sentiments on the situation.

We just thought, hey, were down a game, lets just swing the bats and see what happens. I got two fastballs and a curve ball, and was able to hit each of them hard.

In gaining his second playoff victory, Moores approach on the mound was simple and effective.

I wanted to keep the ball low, get ahead in the count, and let my defense work behind me, he said.

My goal was to try to keep my pitch count down to 15 or so per inning so I could go the whole game if I needed to.

In addition to Lowders perfect night, Davis was two-for-three for the Comets. Peterson was the only Bulldog with multiple hits, going two-for-three with one RBI.

Irwin sustained the loss, giving up six runs, four hits and two walks. Seabolt pitched 3.2 innings, giving up six runs on seven hits and three walks.

Toby Thorpe is a freelance contributor for The Stanly News &Press.

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Comets dominate Game 2 | Sports | thesnaponline.com - Stanly News & Press

It has been six years since a Halifax County High School baseball team last played in a 5A North Region Tournament championship game, but the Comets have that opportunity Friday night.

Halifax County High School will travel to Ashburn Friday to face Briar Woods High School in the championship game of the 5A North Region Tournament. Game time is 6 p.m.

Both teams have punched their respective ticket to next weeks VHSL 5A State Tournament. The Comets advanced with a 2-1 win over North Stafford High School in a 12-inning thriller Wednesday night at Halifax County High School. The Falcons punched their ticket to the state tournament Wednesday night with a 2-1 win over Potomac High School.

While the Comets are assured of a berth in next weeks state tournament regardless of the outcome of Friday nights game against the Falcons, Comets Head Coach Kenneth Day says his team is not going to take things easy in its quest to win the region championship.

Were going to go at it to win it, Day said.

You want to get every piece of gold that you can get along the way because you dont know if youre ever going to get back there again. Weve just got to get after them.

Were going to play a little relaxed, and were going to play the following week no matter what, added Day.

But, were going to do our best to try to bring something good home to this county.

With Wednesday nights win over North Stafford High School in a marathon game that went 12 innings, the Comets did something few Comets baseball teams have done hit the 20 win mark. The Comets 20-2 record, Day says, is a testament to the players.

These kids are just good baseball players, Day remarked.

Thats all there is to it. Every one of them is a good baseball player.

These kids have really worked hard and have done what weve asked them to do, Day continued.

They have really risen up to the occasion and made a lot of plays for us. Weve had a lot of distractions during the season. We just try to keep the guys focused on continuing to move on.

The Comets have handled the pressure of post-season play well, surviving two pressure-cooker games of 11 innings and 12 innings to advance to the state tournament and to Fridays 5A North Region Tournament championship game.

We just try to stay relaxed and stay focused, Day pointed out.

Thats all were trying to do. I tell the guys to just have fun and enjoy the moment and see what happens. You never know whats going to happen.

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Comets face Briar Woods for region title | Prep Sports | yourgv.com - YourGV.com

Ben Birnell

UTICA The Utica Comets earned two valuable points Friday.

A gritty performance against the Toronto Marlies helped the Comets remain in the mix in a tight North Division playoff race.

The Comets held off a late Marlies charge for a 3-1 victory to open an important three-game weekend before an announced capacity crowd of 3,870 at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

"It was one of those games we won it in the stretches," said Comets coach Travis Green, whose team also stopped six-of-seven Toronto power plays. "Our penalty killers had to come up big. At this time of the year when you beat a good team like that it goes a long way."

The fourth-place Comets have 77 points with five regular-season games remaining. With help from an Albany (79 points) win over St. Johns on Friday, the Comets moved a point ahead of the IceCaps. Utica and St. Johns play Sunday. The top four teams in each division qualify for the playoffs.

"(The win) is huge," said Cody Kunyk, who scored the eventual game-winner in the second period on the power play to continue a career season. "It took every line doing their job. A team like them, we had to give them our best effort."

The result gave the Comets (34-28-7-2) a franchise-best nine consecutive home wins and pushed the team to 14-6-1 in their last 21 games.

Rookie Thatcher Demko earned first star honors with 25 stops including big saves in the third for his 22nd victory of the season. Joseph LaBate also scored a power-play goal for the Comets, who finished 2-for-6 on the power play. Wacey Hamilton added an empty-netter.

"The margin for victory is so tight. With our team especially, we dont score goals easily and we know that," Green said. "To get a goal or two on the power-play goes a long way."

Toronto (40-27-4-1), which had a seven-game win streak snapped, clinched a playoff spot for the sixth consecutive season with St. Johns loss. Garret Sparks had 19 saves and allowed two or fewer goals for the ninth consecutive game.

First period

The Marlies controlled early, but the Comets answered with the lone goal.

Utica took the lead on the teams second power play. Off a faceoff win, Colby Robak sent a Chad Billins pass from the left point through traffic to the net where LaBate redirected in his sixth of the season with 7:51 remaining.

The goal was the fourth time in the last five games the Comets scored on the power play.

"I thought we got some of the momentum once we got the goal," said Green, whose team had two big penalty kills one soon after the goal to limit the Marlies fourth-ranked power-play unit.

Second period

Utica extended its lead with another power-play goal in a back-and-forth frame.

With the Comets on a 5-on-3 advantage, Darren Archibald sent a short pass from the bottom of the right circle to Kunyk, who chipped in his 15th of the season from in front past a sprawling Sparks about seven minutes in. Alex Grenier had a nice cross-ice feed to help set up the goal.

"We were kind of in the wrong position," Kunyk said with a smile. "Arch made a heck of a pass to me. I was fortunate for it to go in."

Third period

The Marlies didnt go quietly, though. Toronto broke up the shutout with about seven minutes to play and the Comets killing a 5-on-3 advantage. Mike Sislos one-timer from the top of the left circle made it 2-1.

"They got some momentum and we hung tough," Green said.

Toronto continued to pressure the Comets had to kill another penalty after the goal -- and pulled Sparks with 1:49 remaining, but the Comets shut the door. Hamilton added his ninth of the season with 55 seconds left to seal the win.

Up next

The Comets play their penultimate road game of the season at 7 p.m. Saturday when they take on the Rochester Americans for the third time in nine days. The teams split a home-and-home series last weekend.

Notes: Fridays game was the Comets 90th consecutive sellout, though there were some unfilled seats throughout the Aud. The team has sold out 75 consecutive regular-season games. Brett McKenzie was released from his amateur try out contract Friday. McKenzie, who joined the Comets on March 22 after a strong juniors season, didnt appear in any games. Veteran forward Pascal Pelletier was a scratch Friday.

Comets 3, Marlies 1

Toronto 0 0 1 1

Utica 1 1 1 3

1st Period-1, Utica, LaBate 6 (Robak, Billins), 12:09 (PP). Penalties-Campbell Tor (holding), 8:37; Rychel Tor (tripping), 11:05; Sautner Uti (interference), 12:31; Archibald Uti (unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:47.

2nd Period-2, Utica, Kunyk 15 (Archibald, Grenier), 7:02 (PP). Penalties-Pedan Uti (cross-checking), 4:37; Nielsen Tor (holding), 5:02; Griffith Tor (tripping), 6:16; Hamilton Uti (hooking), 13:44; Johnsson Tor (hooking), 14:40; Oleksy Tor (closing hand on puck), 19:40.

3rd Period-3, Toronto, Sislo 13 (Leipsic, Griffith), 6:52 (PP). 4, Utica, Hamilton 9 (Rendulic), 19:04 (EN). Penalties-Sautner Uti (hooking), 5:12; Cassels Uti (tripping), 6:00; Archibald Uti (tripping), 8:03.

Shots on Goal-Toronto 6-8-12-26. Utica 6-14-2-22.

Power Play Opportunities-Toronto 1 / 7; Utica 2 / 6.

Goalies-Toronto, Sparks 20-8-0 (21 shots-19 saves).

Utica, Demko 22-14-4 (26 shots-25 saves).

A-3,870

Referees-Cameron Voss (41), Chris Ciamaga (13). Linesmen-Tory Carissimo (54), Brian Oliver (74).

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Comets edge Marlies for big home win - Utica Observer Dispatch

The hosting Velma-Alma Comets struggled in their opening games of the 2017 Jake Leffler Tournament, losing both to be eliminated on Friday afternoon.

The Comets opened the tournament with a laid-back attitude, and that cost them a shot at the winners bracket and their ace pitcher.

Velma committed over 10 errors in Thursdays matchup against the Lindsay Leopards. Six of those double-digit errors would come in the second-inning of Thursdays game.

Velmas Tyler Martin was forced to throw to the entire Leopard lineup in that second-inning nightmare. Martin was able to get his outfield five chances at catchable fly balls in the inning, but the Comet outfielders would only field one of them successfully.

Lindsay would score seven runs on six errors and two hits in that second-inning, setting the stage for the Leopards to run rule the home team in four-innings.

With all the maroon disappointment of the opening game, Velma didnt back down from their opponent in Fridays elimination game.

The Comets gave a run at the Sterling Tigers after Sterling had been relinquished to the losers bracket by Comanche in a 3-2, extra inning win over Sterling on Thursday.

The Comets seemed unimpressed by the air of favoritism that often cloaks itself around the Sterling Tigers, at least in the early innings. Velma jumped on top of the tigers as early as possible, after plating a run in the top of the first inning.

Velmas Gabe Bench was able to reach base successfully after drawing a walk. Tyler Martin reached next, advancing Bench to second. Martin navigated the bases aggressively, and that would draw a pickoff attempt from Sterlings catcher. The attempt went awry.

As the ball rolled into the outfield, Bench rounded third and score.

Velma wasnt bent on being a one-inning wonder, and fought back against the Tigers in the second. After enough Comets reached safely to load the bases, Bench hit an RBI-single to tie the game at 2 runs each.

The outfields inability to field a ball successfully would come to cost the Comets again, and, just like Thursdays game, it happened in the second inning.

With their rotation-leading pitcher Tyler Martin burned in Thursdays loss, Sophomore Everett Wade would get the call to the mound against the Tigers. Wade performed almost as well as Martin did on Thursday, by giving his fielders multiple opportunities at outs.

The Comet defense failed to prop up their pitcher, however, giving up two errors in the outfield that ultimately resulted in six Sterling runs. Velma would be unable to come back from Sterlings grasp of the momentum, and, with the help of a four-run third inning, they defeated the Comets by 12-2 in four innings.

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Velma-Alma Comets eliminated from Jake Leffler Tournament - Duncan Banner

In what was another great game in the recent tradition of close one-run games between the Halifax County High School and Franklin County High School softball teams, the Comets pounded on the door of opportunity but couldn't get the door ajar.

The Comets got a pair of runners on the sacks in the sixth inning, and got a runner on base in four other innings, but couldn't come up with the hit needed to punch a run across the plate in a 1-0 loss to the Eagles Thursday night at Halifax County High School.

It was the third straight game between the two teams that was decided by one run.

"The situation came up where we couldn't scratch up a hit when we needed to," said Comets Head Coach Woody Bane, "but my girls played their hearts out. We played good defense. Lauryn Chappell pitched well. We're headed in the right direction. We've got to scratch for that hit when we need to."

The Comets, 4-4 on the season, had six hits in the game, with Megan Watts leading the team with a 3-3 effort at the plate that included a double. Jeri Lynn Tyler, Mackenzie Lawter and Anna Clowdis each had one hit.

Halifax County High School played solid defense throughout the game, holding the Eagles scoreless when they had two runners on base in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. The Comets had one double play in the game, that coming in the top of the fourth inning when Watts snared a line drive and fired the ball to Karina Velazquez at second base to pick off an Eagles runner.

Chappell threw a good all-around game from the mound, striking out two batters while scattering six hits and two walks.

Trailing 1-0, the Comets produced their best scoring opportunity in the bottom of the sixth inning. Tyler, the leadoff batter, opened with a base hit. Chappell hit a hard line drive shot to leftfieldthat was caught for the first out of the inning. Lawter hit a screaming line drive right at the Franklin County High School second baseman that was caught for the second out. Clowdis reached base with a hit that sent Tyler to second base. A wild pitch allowed the two runners to move to second base and third base. The inning ended when Katie Cole went down on strikes.

Earlier, the Comets got Watts, their leadoff batter in the third inning, on base with a hit. That threat went by the board when Watts was erased on a double play that started with Kaitlyn Richardson popping up a bunt to the Eagles' third baseman.

Chappell led off the fourth inning for the Comets by getting on base with a walk. A sacrifice bunt by Lawter moved Chappell to second base, but that was as far as Chappell would get.

Franklin County High School was able to take advantage of an opportunity in the top of the second inning to produce what would become the game-winning run. With one out, the Eagles' Karle Cundiff got on base with a hit. A sacrifice bunt from Kelsey Pendleton moved Cundiff to second base. Caroline McConnell followed with a base hit, with Cundiff sliding across the plate, missing the attempted tag by Lawter, the Comets' catcher, by inches to score the run.

"You couldn't have asked for a better high school setting, high school game," said Franklin County High School Head Coach Bryan Forbes after the win that improved his team's record to 6-0 on the season.

"For a high school game, it was a great competition. Our girls battled and they (Halifax County High School) battled. The run we scored probably shouldn't have scored. I didn't give the bunt (signal to Pendleton) but the young lady put it down anyway."

Forbes said this was the first game this season that his team had been held to less than six or seven runs in a game.

"This showed me that we can play with anybody on a given day even if our bats are not as hot as they have been lately," he remarked.

While the Comets came up shy on the scoreboard against the Eagles, the good play on the part of the Comets in this game and in the team's wins in its three previous games has Bane feeling good about the direction the team is heading.

"I'm really happy with my team," Bane pointed out.

"We're really going down the right road right now. We're getting healthy. We're going to be alright."

Prior to the game, Franklin County High School made a donation to the Olivia Noblin Scholarship Fund, and the Eagles softball team gave Stanley Noblin, father of late Comets second baseman Olivia Noblin who lost her life in a highway traffic crash in late December, an Eagles team shirt with his daughter's No. 9 on it in honor of the late Comets second baseman.

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Comets knock on door of opportunity, but fall to Franklin County HS 1-0 - YourGV.com

PORT OF SPAIN

The fifth round of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board three-day league competition bowls off today with defending champions Queens Park Cricket Club hoping to put some distance between themselves and former winners Merry Boys.

The Parkites and Merry Boys are level on 90 points at the top of the Premier Division One standings and the race for the trophy will be heating up with just three matches to go. The defending champions face the struggling Alescon Comets at Queens Park Oval in St Clair while Merry Boys travel to Penal to face First Citizens Clarke Road United at Wilson Road. Clarke Road are last on the eight-team table on 41 points while Comets are fifth on 45. In the other games starting today, third place Central Sports (65 points) host fourth place PowerGen Penal Sports (45 points) at Invaders Ground in Felicity while seventh placed Tableland Sports (43 points) travel to Barrackpore to face sixth placed Jailal Enterprises Victoria Sports (44 points). All three-day matches bowl off today and continue on April 22 and 23. National League 3-Day Fixtures PowerGen Penal Sports vs Central Sports, Felicity First Citizens Clarke Road United vs Merry Boys, Wilson Road Tableland Sports vs Victoria Sports, Barrackpore QPCC vs Alescon Comets, Queens Park Oval

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Parkites face Comets as three-day League resumes - Trinidad & Tobago Express

By Adam Feiner afeiner@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5550 @AdamFeinerSVM

STERLING Nonconference baseball games early in the season are good indicators of what teams need to improve on or continue to do.

What Newman will continue to do is ride the arm of ace Luke Olson, whose strong performance on the bump paced the Comets to a 9-2 win over River Ridge-Scales Mound Friday afternoon.

Olson didnt give up a hit in 5 1/3 innings of work. However, after 74 pitches, Newman coach Tom Wilson made the move to KC Knack to save Olson for next Wednesdays matchup against the team that knocked the Comets out of the postseason last year, Milledgeville.

When asked about coming off the mound, Olsons response was atypical of any pitcher working on a no-hitter.

I wanted to stay in there, Olson said. But they want to save me so I can throw next week. I was trying to keep my pitch count down, but I threw too many balls and walked too many people.

He was a bit overpowering for us, River Ridge-Scales Mound coach Jeremy Knauer said. We had seen pitchers like him before, but not this past week. We didnt make the adjustment back. Hes got good stuff.

The sophomore set the tone from the start by striking out the side in the first inning. His rhythm continued, as his curveball and slider confused Wildcat hitters as much as his fastball overpowered them. After a walk with one out in the sixth, Wilson made the switch to Knack with a 3-0 count on pinch-hitter Andrew Brown. Brown walked on Knacks second pitch.

That set the table for the Wildcats first hit. Nick Parr doubled down the third-base line to score pinch-runner Jaxon Westbrook and make it 5-1 Newman. A fielders choice brought home another run for RRSM, but Knack escaped any further damage by inducing a groundout from Austin Kutz to end the inning.

It was the first time in the game that River Ridge/Scales Mound (2-7) had any momentum.

Newman pounced on the Wildcats with two runs in the second. A double by Knack led off the inning, followed by a Travis Williams single. Ethan Behrens squeeze bunted Knack home. Zach Rice singled up the middle to bring in Williams and make it 2-0 Comets.

Behrens manufactured Newmans third run. He beat out an infield single to start the inning, then stole second. Zach Rice laid down a successful sacrifice bunt, but Behrens never stopped running from second, as he rounded third and beat the catcher Stadel to the plate. Four batters later, Nate Olson beat out an infield single to bring his brother home and make it 4-0.

In the fifth, it was Williams manufacturing a run for Newman. The junior reached on a fielders choice, stole second and third, and came home on a wild pitch to pad the Comet lead.

The Wildcats faced an uphill climb all game on the mound. RRSM was one of just a few teams in all of Northwest Illinois to play all of their scheduled games this week, which resulted in limited pitching options Friday. Ben Crist, Ben Francke, Bennett Reese and Alex Nesbit all made their varsity pitching debuts against Newman.

We were ecstatic to be in the game, Knauer said. You never want moral victories, but when you have four kids that have never pitched [at the varsity level] before, you almost take this as a moral victory for the kids. I was proud of how we played, for the most part.

Newman (3-3) tacked on four runs in the bottom of the sixth off three Wildcat errors and an RBI single from Chase Graham. No Comet had more than one hit, but eight players had at least one hit.

A week off from games had Newman anxious to get out and play, which was all they were looking for Friday.

We were looking for the sun, and we actually got it for a change, Wilson said, somewhat jokingly. We worked on our pitching. Luke did a great job starting, and KC did a good job finishing.

Baseball

Newman 9, River Ridge/Scales Mound 2

Star of the game: Luke Olson, Newman, 5 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 0 H, 9 K, 74 pitches

Key performers: KC Knack, Newman, 1-for-4, 2B, 1 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H; Travis Williams, Newman, 1-for-4, 2 SB, 2 runs; Zach Rice, Newman, 1 for-1, 2 RBI; Nick Parr, RRSM, 1-for-3, 2B, RBI

Up next: Newman at Bureau Valley, doubleheader, 1 p.m. Saturday

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Olson, Comets overpower Wildcats in nonconference game at home - SaukValley.com

Ben Birnell

Another big weekend looms for the Utica Comets.

The Comets, aided by a 13-6-1-0 run in an up-and-down season, need a little bit help as they battle for a North Division playoff spot. As the Comets (33-28-7-2, 75 points) begin another three-game set Friday, they are a point behind St. Johns and two back of third-place Albany. The top five North teams are separated by 10 points. The top four teams in each division qualify for the American Hockey Leagues playoffs.

With six games remaining over the last nine days of the regular season, coach Travis Green said the Comets have to continue to work hard in order to pick up victories.

I think you always wonder if your team can get it done when the chips are in the middle, said Green, whose team has won eight consecutive home games going into Friday. Theyve shown they can make it. It is not surprising to me. I wouldnt expect our team to go away. Im not expecting it now.

Utica draws a tough matchup against division-leading Toronto (40-26-4-1, 85 points) at 7 p.m. Friday at the Utica Memorial Auditorium before traveling to Rochester on Saturday. St. Johns visits Utica on Saturday afternoon for arguably one of the Comets most important games of the season. Utica has earned at least four out of a possible six points in each of its three-game weekends since early March.

I think we just have to take it one game at a time, forward Mike Zalewski said. This is playoff hockey right now. We know whats at stake and what we have to do.

That starts with limiting a Toronto team that has a seven-game win streak. The Comets also know they must stay out of the penalty box against Toronto, which has 14 power-play goals on 41 opportunities (34.1 percent) in seven meetings this season.

The Comets have been helped by stellar play from rookie goaltender Thatcher Demko, who is 12-3 with a 2.01 goals-against average in starting 15 of the last 17 games. Offense has been spread around with seven players combining to score the teams nine goals in regulation last weekend.

(Demko) has been our backbone, said Jordan Subban, whose 16 goals are third-most among AHL defensemen. Confidence is key. Hes just been lights-out.

A surprise for Zalewski

Zalewski got some unexpected news Wednesday night.

Thats when the New Hartford native said he found out hes getting his own bobblehead figure. Zalewski said he found out when his girlfriend told him after seeing the Comets post an announcement about the collectible on their Instagram page.

I have never had something like that, Zalewski said with a laugh Thursday. It is pretty cool. I was pretty happy.

The bobblehead, which features Zalewski in a celebration pose while wearing Uticas green alternate uniform, will be given out before next Wednesdays game against Syracuse. According to the Comets, there is a limit of one bobblehead per fan in attendance and will be distributed upon entering the building through one of our three entrances.

The bobblehead is among the festivities planned for the teams Fan Appreciation Week over the final three home games Sunday, Wednesday and next Friday. The team is raffling off several prizes, including memorabilia and gift cards from local businesses. Before Sundays game, team awards, including MVP and best defenseman, will be presented.

Zalewski said Comets defenseman and friend John Negrin was having some good-natured fun with him Thursday about the bobblehead. Zalewski is the third Comets player to become a bobblehead. Darren Archibald and Joacim Ericsson bobbleheads were given out in previous seasons.

Im sure there will be some autographs, Zalewski said.

Roll call

Assistant captain Wacey Hamilton skated Thursday in a red no-contact jersey, but seemed to be moving around well.

Green said Hamilton, who has missed nine games this season, is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Also not on the ice Thursday was Negrin, who was spotted in a walking boot after practice.

Hes out a couple weeks at least, Green said of the defenseman, who has missed 39 games because of injuries this season.

Both were injured in Sundays win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Green said.

Olympics for AHL?

Since the National Hockey Leagues announcement this week that it will not stop for the 2018 Olympics, many have wondered how national teams might fill their rosters.

With the AHL serving as the primary development league for the NHL, it is feasible players could be involved. No decision on the matter has been announced and more discussion will likely happen among officials.

I do think theres a pretty good possibility we will be stocking some of those Olympic teams, AHL President and CEO David Andrews said Tuesday on SiriusXMs Stellick and Simmer.

Green has some experience on the international stage, helping Canada win the Spengler Cup in 2007. He said he thinks players enjoy participating in events like the Olympics.

We wouldnt be talking about it if there wasnt a dynamic, Green said. As a fan you enjoy watching it, but I also know theres a business side of it. It is not as simple as it seems. Theyre not easy decisions to make. I respect the decisions they make.

Green said he wasnt sure how a scenario would work in which players in the AHL on an NHL contract could join a national team.

I havent given it much thought, Green said.

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Comets notebook: Crucial weekend on tap for Utica - Utica Observer Dispatch

Mandy Lewis scored the go-ahead goal early in the second half, and that score proved to be the game-winner, as Halifax County High School edged Martinsville High School 2-1 at Halifax County High School on Wednesday.

The Bulldogs had taken a 1-0 lead in the first half, but the Comets responded at the 32-minute mark of the half when Summer Lacks scored off a direct kick from Erin Glass to tie the score.

The Comets (3-4) got the game-winner early in the second half, when Lewis notched a goal off an assist from Lacks, making the score 2-1.

Halifax County High School kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard the remainder of what Coach Sid Young described as a fast-paced and physical game.

Everyone played hard, said Young, whose team is at full strength after dealing with various injuries the first weeks of the season.

That is nothing but positive news going forward, with the Comets starting to develop better depth through more players in the rotation, Young pointed out.

It makes you more comfortable subbing more often, he explained.

We want to see the kids improve and do well. I was real pleased with the subs the second half, and thats what you want to see.

The Comets finished with 15 shots on goal, compared to eight for Martinsville, and Comets keepers Mollie Slate and Amanda Coleman had four and three saves, respectively, compared to 13 for the Bulldogs keeper.

Halifax County High School led in corner kicks by a 6-3 margin and direct kicks by an 11-6 margin, and each team had seven indirect kicks.

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Comets edge Martinsville - YourGV.com

When you think it can't be done, Kenna Wilkey continues to defy all odds.

Reed-Custer's star pitcher hurled a complete game, no-hitter Friday night and struck out 20 hitters in a 10-0 win over Westmont. She was also 3-for-3 at the dish.

Antoinette Hill helped Wilkey's cause with a 2-for-4 night at the plate, including a home run.

Magan Harris and Madison Bauer both went deep Friday night as Watseka topped Urbana 12-0 in six innings.

Harris finished 3-for-4 with a double, home run and five RBIs, and Bauer added a 2-for-3 day with a double, homer and three RBIs.

In the circle, Taylor Hotaling (6-1) went the distance for Watseka, striking out 16 and not allowing a single hit.

The Tigers (6-1, 1-0 I-8) scored one in the fourth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh to edge Coal City on Friday night.

Leading the way was Morgan Scivally, who picked up the win in the circle by throwing a complete game and allowing no earned runs on six hits and 11 strikeouts. The sophomore also collected two hits and knocked in two runs at the plate.

Molly Cann also posted two hits and an RBI while Paige Glass hit her fourth home run this year.

For Coal City, Kali Caruso finished 1-for-3 with an RBI, and Leah Campos finished 1-for-3 with a run. Leslie Youskevtch took the loss in the circle, throwing all seven innings and allowing four earned runs on six hits.

Kaylee Warren took the loss in the circle for the Bearcats, throwing six innings and allowing seven earned runs on 10 hits.

Brittney Bailey was 2-for-3 at the dish with a home run and two RBIs. Jordan Fritch also had two hits, going 2-for-3 with a run.

St. Anne 22, Families of Faith 4

The Cardinals pummeled Families of Faith on Friday night behind a plethora of strong offensive performances.

Brandi Chase was 4-for-5 with a double and an RBI, Payton Kerness finished 3-for-4 with a triple and an RBI, and Grace Langellier was 3-for-5 with a home run, four RBIs and four runs. Kenzie Nicholson also had three hits and three RBIs.

Lincoln-Way East 10, Bradley-Bourbonnais 3

Defensive miscues doomed the Boilermakers on Friday night in a loss to the Griffins.

Hunter Sherman was the losing pitcher, throwing three innings and surrendering six runs on 12 hits and three walks.

Camryn DeBell led BBCHS' offense, going 2-for-4 while Miranda Wehrle was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

Justine Reents got another win in the circle, throwing three relief innings of shutout softball. The senior was also 1-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs.

Lorri Kucharski was 3-for-5, and both Emma Hafner and Bella Egizio collected two base knocks.

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High School Softball: Wilkey powers Comets past Westmont - Kankakee Daily Journal

There may be as many as a trillion comets in our solar system, but only about 5,000 of them have been observed by humans. These small icy celestial travelers often appear suddenly.

Historically, people of many cultures have observed comets and have ascribed good luck or bad luck to them. Approximately once a year, a comet becomes bright enough to see with the naked eye.

A comets brightness is unpredictable in advance since it depends on the amount of gas and dust it releases as it is warmed by the Sun. This same situation makes it interesting to watch as it moves by our home planet. In the spring of 2017 there will be a unique opportunity to view three comets on the same night with a pair of binoculars or with your naked eye.

To do so you will need to be at a location with a natural night sky such as the Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary (CCIDSS). You will need to avoid looking at a white light for at least 30 minutes. Use a fashlight with red plastic wrap attached with a rubber band to view your star chart. If you use a cellphone sky map you will need to make red plastic wrap flter for it as well otherwise, it will blind your night vision.

Comet C/2015 V2 Johnson was discovered by Jess Johnson of the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) located in Tucson, Arizona. It should be visible in binoculars starting in mid April and may reach naked eye brightness in early June.

This comet is making its one and only trip past our Earth and Sun and then will be leaving our solar system. Eons from now Comet C/2015 V2 Johnson may enter another solar system and appear to any viewers who might be waiting to see it.

Comet 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak orbits the Sun every fve and a half years, has a nucleus about a mile in diameter, and is known to have brightness fares. It should be visible in binoculars starting in mid April and could reach naked eye brightness in May.

At the end of April it will pass near the Globular Cluster M92 creating an interesting photographic opportunity.

Comet C/2015 ER61 PanSTARRS was discovered by the PanSTARRS group with their telescope atop Haleakala on Maui. This comet orbits the Sun every 60,000 years or so. It should be bright enough to view with the naked eye or binoculars starting in the mid April pre-dawn sky.

Near the new moon April 26 it should be possible to see all three of these comets on the same night. Take this unique opportunity to view a once in a lifetime celestial pageant.

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3 comets in one night at Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary - El Defensor Chieftain

Ben Birnell

The Utica Comets have had trouble solving Lehigh Valley this season.

Each of the four meetings got there in a different way, but the result was similar Saturday as the Phantoms swept the season series and halted the Comets American Hockey League-best six-game winning streak.

Lehigh Valley never trailed after scoring 41 seconds into the game, and Alex Lyon totaled 36 saves to top the Comets 4-1 on Saturday before 8,681 fans at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The result was the Comets first loss in regulation since Feb. 19 and a 7-4 setback -- Utica led 2-0 in that contest -- to the Phantoms in Utica. Lehigh Valley also picked up 4-1 victories over Utica on Nov. 11 and Jan. 8.

With Saturdays loss, the Comets are 7-1-1-0 in the last nine games.

On Saturday, Cody Kunyk scored in the third period his sixth point in six games for the Comets (27-24-7-2, 63 points), who were without forwards Alex Grenier and Joseph LaBate due to recalls by the Vancouver Canucks. Rookie goaltender Michael Garteig was solid in his first start since being recalled from the ECHL on March 1, stopping 23 shots for the the Comets.

The Comets loss was a missed opportunity as they battle for a playoff position in the North Division with St. Johns, which picked up an overtime win over Syracuse on Saturday. The Comets are three points back of the IceCaps with 16 regular-season games remaining. The Cometshave two games in hand on the IceCaps.The Comets are two points behind Toronto.

The Comets conclude a three-game weekend when they take on the Binghamton Senators at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. The Comets have won five consecutive home games.

First period

Despite the Comets peppering Lyon who was coming off a shutout in his last start -- with a season-most 18 shots, the Phantoms struck twice for a lead they would not relinquish.

Lehigh Valley wasted little time when a streaking Colin McDonald scored from the doorstep less than a minute in.

Then, the Phantoms answered again with a power-play goal with 10:26 remaining. With Darren Archibald serving hooking and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, T.J. Brennan scored 18th goal of the season on one-timer from the right circle.

It was the first power-play goal the Comets allowed in nine opportunities in the last three games. The Comets finished four-of-five on the penalty kill.

Second period

The Comets had good pressure again, totaling 12 shots for a 30-13 advantage, but couldnt solve Lyon.

Utica outshot the Phantoms 7-0 early, before the Phantoms added to their lead. Nicholas Aube-Kubel made it 3-0 scoring on a one-timer with 7:44 remaining.

Third period

The score remained the same until the Comets finally solved Lyon later in the period.

Kunyk struck with 6:44 remaining when he took a short pass from Jake Virtanen and stuff the puck through Lyons legs in front. Kunyks 12th goal of the season ended Lyons shutout streak at 113 minutes, 16 seconds. Curtis Valk also added an assist.

The Comets pulled Garteig with about two minutes left and continued to pressure, but the Phantoms added an empty-netter to seal the victory.

Phantoms 4, Comets 1

Utica 0 0 1 1

Lehigh Valley 2 1 1 4

1st Period-1, Lehigh Valley, McDonald 22 (Laughton, Bardreau), 0:41. 2, Lehigh Valley, Brennan 18 (Miele, Carey), 9:34 (PP). Penalties-Archibald Uti (hooking, unsportsmanlike conduct), 6:58; Morin Lv (tripping), 11:51. 2nd Period-3, Lehigh Valley, Aube-Kubel 8 (Miele, Conner), 12:16. Penalties-Morin Lv (interference), 1:44; Archibald Uti (elbowing), 20:00. 3rd Period-4, Utica, Kunyk 12 (Virtanen, Valk), 13:16. 5, Lehigh Valley, Sanheim 10 19:55 (EN). Penalties-Pedan Uti (goaltender interference), 1:11; Zalewski Uti (high-sticking), 9:17; Archibald Uti (fighting), 19:55; Morin Lv (unsportsmanlike conduct, fighting), 19:55. Shots on Goal-Utica 18-12-7-37. Lehigh Valley 9-4-14-27. Power Play Opportunities-Utica 0 / 3; Lehigh Valley 1 / 5. Goalies-Utica, Garteig 0-2-2 (26 shots-23 saves). Lehigh Valley, Lyon 24-11-3 (37 shots-36 saves). A-8,681 Referees-Terry Koharski (10), Tyler Puddifant (9). Linesmen-Tim Lyons (33), Jason Mandroc (17).

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Phantoms snap Comets' win streak - Utica Observer Dispatch

As part of my move from Down the Byline, my hope had been to devote more time to specific posts instead of blogging everything myself. One of those specific posts was my post game stats, so Im hoping to post stats on all four of KCs professional soccer teams. So here are some stats from Thursday nights Kansas City Comets 7-6 win over the Milwaukee Wave.

Vahid Assadpour's two goals gave him 14 in the playoffs for the Comets, tying him with Byron Alvarez for the second most all time for KC.

Assadpour's first goal was his 300th point for the Comets (goals as one, assists as one), he's the second player to hit that mark.

Lucas Rodriguez's three goals gave him six playoff goals for the Comets, moving him into sixth place all time on that list.

Bryan Perez's assist was his 50th in all competitions for the Comets, he's the sixth player to hit that mark.

Stephen Paterson, Ignacio Flores, and Odaine Sinclair all earned their first playoff points for the Comets.

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Juice Boxes and Post Game Snacks: Comets Playoffs Game 1 - The Blue Testament

Gajanand Singh scored an unbeaten 51 to lead Central Sports a five-wicket win over Alescon Comets on the second day of their three-day National League Premier Division One match at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva, yesterday. Comets, who made 79 in their first innings, were dismissed for 194 in their second turn at the crease yesterday to set Central a victory target of 128. Central, who made 146 in their first innings, lost three early wickets in their chase yesterday with Vikash Mohan getting rid of Kamil Pooran for four and Kjorn Ottley for zero before Philton Williams accounted for Alex Antoine for five. However Jahran Alfred hit 26 and skipper Shazan Babwah made 20 before Singh brought home the win with Fazil Baksh, who was unbeaten on 15 in the end. In South Trinidad, defending champions Queens Park Cricket Club conceded first innings points against PowerGen Penal Sports however a five-wicket haul from Sunil Narine kept the South team from getting a large lead. Narine grabbed five for 68 as Penal were dismissed or 150 in reply to the Parkites 136 all out. Ewart Nicholson was the best batsman for Penal with 62. Narine then scored 37 not out with the bat to lead Queens Park to 172 at stumps with an overall lead of 158. Daron Cruickshank top-scored in the Parkites second innings making 47 while Tion Webster hit 31. At Gilbert Park in California, Merry Boys scored 310, with Jeetendra Sookdeo hitting 138 against Victoria Sports who could only muster 205 in reply. Merry Boys closed the day on 42 for one with an overall lead of 147. In the other game in the top flight, Tableland Sports scored 316 for nine declared in reply to First Citizens Clarke Roads 154 all out. Batting a second time, Clarke Road reached 28 for one at stumps, still trailing by 134.

Summarised scores: Premier Division I--Day 2 At Syne Village QPCC 136 (51.6 overs) (Kirstan Kallicharan 44; Jovan Ali 4/24) & 172-8 (Daron Cruickshank 47, Tion Webster 31, Sunil Narine 37 n.o,; Ansil Bhagan 4/54, Kavesh Kantasingh 4/80) vs POWERGEN PENAL 150 (Ewart Nicholson 62; Sunil Narine 5/68, Darren Deonarine 4/44) At the National Cricket Centre ALESCON COMETS 79 (Dave Samooj 9/9) & 194 (Idrees Mohammed 58, Kirk Edwards 36; Rakesh Maharaj 5/24, Stephen Shaddick 3/32) vs CENTRAL SPORTS 146 (Kamil Pooran 52; Kastri Singh 6/48) & 128-5 (Gajanand Singh 51 n.o.; Vikash Mohan 2/27) --Central Sports won by five wickets

At Gilbert Park MERRY BOYS 310 (Jeetendra Sookdeo 138, Ranga Lachana 69; Garey Mathirin 7/110) & 42-1 vs VICTORIA SPORTS 205 (Keron Kanhai 89; Aneil Kanhai 5/52, Ricky Jaipaul 4/27)

At Tableland CLARKE ROAD 154 (Tariq Abdool 6/31) & 28-1 (Adrian Ali 17 n.o.) vs Tableland 316-9 dec (Brian Pegus 96, Daniel St Clair 65, Ainsley Sutherland 35, Negus Carthy 32; Akeel Mullon 5/65))

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Trinidad Express Newspapers: Sports | Central Sports stop Comets - Trinidad & Tobago Express

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Abington Heights' #44 Alessia Brunori drives past New Oxford's # 15 Haley Luckabaugh and scores during the game Saturday, March 11, at Marywood University. Jason Farmer / Staff Photographer

It was as good a half of basketball as Abington Heights junior Hannah Kowalski has played.

Turns out, even that wasnt enough.

New Oxford survived a monumental 16 minutes by the Lady Comets point guard, then posted its own second-half run as the Colonials ousted Abington Heights in the PIAA Class 5A tournament, 58-44, on Saturday at Marywood Universitys Insalaco Center.

I knew I wanted to leave it all out on the floor, said Kowalski, who went 7 of 14 in the first half, scoring 20 of her 22 points. I came out as hard as I could and give it my best effort.

Kowalski rained 3s on New Oxford, drilling three in the opening quarter and another in the final minute of the second quarter, combining with Olivia Baker to keep the Lady Comets within striking distance after second-leading scorer Alessia Brunori picked up two quick fouls and sat the final 12 minutes.

Theres no better half of basketball that shes played than that first half, Abington Heights coach Deanna Klingman said.

New Oxford was able to weather the storm.

We knew (Kowalski) was going to take 95 percent of their shots, New Oxford coach Jim Kunkle said. We just got a little tighter on her the second half, played more help defense if she got by her.

The Colonials also went to a longer and more agile defender in Daelyn Stabler, who was able to keep Kowalski in check.

She was definitely quicker than whoever guarded me the first half, and she had long arms which made it difficult, Kowalski said. She definitely challenged me. I didnt get what I wanted the second half.

So Klingman took a different tact.

We said to our post players the elbow shot is going to be there, Klingman said.

Baker hit two mid-range jumpers to give the Lady Comets a 37-32 lead midway through the third.

Then the wheels came off.

After hitting five 3s in the first half, the team missed all 19 long-range attempts in the final two quarters and New Oxford, which got 18 points apiece from Haley Luckenbaugh and Kaelyn Long, pulled clear thanks to an 18-0 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters.

We forced probably the last five or six (3s), but still, the other shots were open when we took them, Klingman said. Great looks. I tell the kids Ill give you those looks every day of the week. Thats basketball.

You need to make those shots when you get to this level. It wasnt just our shooting night tonight from the perimeter, and we needed that.

Contact the writer:

mmyers@timesshamrock.com

@mmyersTT on Twitter

New Oxford (22-8) H. Luckenbaugh 4 8-8 18, K. Long 3 12-16 18, B. Sauter 3 1-3 7, D. Stabler 3 0-0 6, H. Still 1 2-2 5, P. Berryhill 1 2-5 4, A. Nailor 0 0-0 0, L. Slonaker 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-42 25-34 58.

Abington Heights (14-12) H. Kowalski 8 2-2 22, O. Baker 4 2-2 10, A. Brunori 2 1-2 5, E. Albright 2 0-0 4, G. Evans 1 0-0 3, N. Getz 0 0-0 0, N. Nealon 0 0-0 0, P. Koehler 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-46 5-6 40.

New Oxford 15 15 10 18 58

Abington Heights 12 17 8 7 44

3-point shooting: NO 3-8 (Luckenbaugh 2-5, Still 1-2, Sauter 0-1), AH 5-32 (Kowalski 4-19, Evans 1-9, Albright 0-1, Getz 0-3). Rebounds: NO 39 (Long 12), AH 28 (Brunori 9). Assists: NO 7 (Long 5), AH 6

(Kowalski 5). Steals: NO 10 (Luckabaugh 3, Stabler 3), AH 7 (Evans 2, Albright 2). Turnovers: NO 14, AH 13. Blocks: AH 5 (Kowalski 2, Baker 2). Fouled out: Kowalski.

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PIAA GIRLS: Kowalski's effort not enough to carry Lady Comets - Scranton Times-Tribune

Up until recently, scientists have always separated comets and asteroids by one main thing: that comets form gas and dust tails when they get close to the Sun whereas asteroids dont. But, the more scientists uncover about these two anomalies, the more theyve discovered it may not be quite so cut and dry.

The tails of comets that we see only appear when volatiles such as water ice is melted by the heat of the Sun. Hence the reason we only see tails on comets and not asteroids is that they are much icier than the other. But, asteroids can also have icy volatiles giving them the appearance of a comet. And vice versa, comets can also have very rocky surfaces making them appear like an asteroid. One such example is that of the asteroid P/2016 J1. This asteroid was found to have two separate components that had very similar orbits. Basically what this meant was that once upon a time these two components made up just one asteroid but had someone been broken in two by a collision or gravitational interaction. Simulations have been made that suggest it was around six years ago when this particular asteroid split apart, making it the youngest fragmented asteroid that were aware of.

The P/2016 J1 asteroid is about twice as far from the Sun (at perihelion) than that of Earth and takes about 5.5 years to complete its orbit around the glowing star. Just last year when the asteroid neared perihelion long dusty tails were produced as the two parts of the asteroid came alive, making them look like comets. So, although we may have once classified these two anomalies into dirty snowballs and dry rocks, there are so much more similarities to them that we can now see in them and no longer should we consider them in this way.

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The Hubble Shows How Asteroids and Comets are More Alike than We Realized - TrendinTech

Ben Birnell

UTICA The Utica Comets are playing some of their best hockey.

For the second time this week, their strong effort was enough to get past veteranJaroslav Halak and the Atlantic Divisions Bridgeport Sound Tigers to improve their American Hockey League-best win streak to six games.

Michael Carcone scored the eventual game-winner, and Thatcher Demko stopped 23 shots to help the Comets earn another gritty 2-1 win over the Sound Tigers before an announced crowd of 3,870 at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. The Comets also won 2-1 on Sunday in Utica.

"Really, top-to-bottom our team-game was good. We didn't give up a lot anddefended hard," said Comets coach Travis Green, whose team is 7-0-1-0 in the last eight games.

On the winner, Pascal Pelletier worked the puck behind the net on the left side and flipped it through the crease to a cutting Carcone in front, where the rookie punched it past Halak for his second of the season with 13:24 remaining in the game.

"You have to make (Halak) move and get in his face," said Carcone, who with linemates Pelleter and Borna Rendulic had a solid game. "You have make sure he doesn't see pucks. Because if does, he'll probably stop it."

Demko, who has allowed seven goals in six consecutive starts, made some big stops throughout in another solid performance. Rookie Curtis Valk added his 15th of the season in the second period for the Comets, who were without points leader Alex Grenier after the forward was recalled before Fridays game.

The victory matches Utica'slonges streak this season and pushed the Comets (27-23-7-2, 63 points) to their fifth consecutive win at home. The win was important was for Utica as theybattle for fourth place in the North Division with St. Johns, which beat Rochester 3-2 on Friday. Utica, which has 17 regular-season games remaining, is one point back of St. Johnswith two games in hand. The top four teams in each division make the playoffs.

Halak, the NHL veteran who entered Friday among the AHL's best goalies, totaled 26 saves for the Sound Tigers (36-20-2-1). Three of Halaks four losses in regulation this season have come against the Comets.

First period

Both Demko and Halak made some key stops to keep the game scoreless through 20 minutes.

The Comets, who led 12-7 in shots, had a good chance with about 3 minutes. After a turnover, Carcone found Pelletier on a 2-on-0 on the right side, but Halak slid over to make the save on the veteran forwards one-timer.

Later, Demko stopped Ryan Pulock'sgood lookthrough traffic from the right point.

Second period

The Comets controlled and broke the tie late on a nice effort between Jake Virtanen and Valk.

The goal came with Cole Cassels and Kyle Burroughs off after short but good scrap. Virtanen got the puck from Cody Kunyk, broke into the zone on the left side and sent a cross-ice pass to a streaking Valk, who buried a backhanded shot high past Halak with 5:08 left.

It snapped a nine-game goalless streak for Valk. It was the third assist in four games for Kunyk.

Demko was tested later on Bridgeports lone power play. However, he turned aside good chances from Devon Toews, Michael Dal Colle and Bracken Kearns on the doorstep with 33 seconds left to keep the Sound Tigers at bay.

Third period

The teams traded goals about three minutes apart to make things interesting.

The Comets answered first with Carcone's goal for a two-goal cushion. Green was happy with play line.

"They were really good," Green said. "It was nice to see Carcone get rewarded."

However, Bridgeport didn't go away. The Sound Tigers broke up the shutout when Kellen Jones fooled Demko with a shot from the high slot with 10:20 to play.

Bridgeport continued to pressure, but the Comets were tough. Demko made a big blocker stop on Joshua Winquist with about two minutes left. Halak was pulled with 1:15 left, but the Comets held off the Sound Tigers.

"He's been outstanding," Carcone said of Demko. "He's been a big part of these wins."

Up next

The Comets hit the road to play Lehigh Valley at 7 p.m. Saturday at the PPL Center. Lehigh Valley has won all three meetings against Utica this season.

NOTES: Fridays game was the Comets 86th consecutive sellout, though there were some unfilled seats throughout the Aud. The team has sold out 71 consecutive regular-season games. Wacey Hamilton (week-to-week) and Derek Hulak (39 consecutive games) each missed the game with injuries. The teams meet for the final time this season March 18 in Bridgeport.

Comets 2, Sound Tigers 1

Bridgeport 0 0 1 1

Utica 0 1 1 2

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-B. Holmstrom Bri (slashing), 0:42; Markison Bri (hooking), 12:31.

2nd Period-1, Utica, Valk 15 (Virtanen, Kunyk), 14:52. Penalties-Burroughs Bri (fighting), 14:36; Cassels Uti (fighting), 14:36; Rendulic Uti (hooking), 17:02.

3rd Period-2, Utica, Carcone 2 (Pelletier), 6:36. 3, Bridgeport, K. Jones 4 (Burroughs, Toews), 9:40. Penalties-Markison Bri (tripping), 2:32; Billins Uti (diving/embellishment), 2:32.

Shots on Goal-Bridgeport 7-9-8-24. Utica 12-10-6-28.

Power Play Opportunities-Bridgeport 0 / 1; Utica 0 / 2.

Goalies-Bridgeport, Halak 15-4-3 (28 shots-26 saves).

Utica, Demko 15-11-4 (24 shots-23 saves).

A-3,870

Referees-Dave Lewis (46), Chris Brown (86). Linesmen-Jim Harper (59), Rob Sauda (99).

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Comets edge Sound Tigers again - Utica Observer Dispatch

Central Sports will be hoping to pull off another upset against Alescon Comets when the National League Premier Division One three-day tournament resumes today. Central Sports, who were promoted to the Premier Division at the end of last season, have already clinched first innings points over Comets on the opening day of the contest last Saturday, at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva. However, Comets, who were dismissed for 79 in their first innings, hit back late in the day to dismiss Central for 146 before reaching 98 for three at stumps, taking a 31-run lead. They will be hoping to extend that lead when day two bowls off today. In other matches resuming today, PowerGen Penal will start their reply to Queens Park Cricket Clubs 136 all out while Merry Boys will resume their first innings on 293 for eight against Victoria Sports, with Jeetendra Sookdeo looking to add to his overnight tally of 129 not out. In the other Premier One game, Tableland Sports will resume their first innings on 66 for three, replying to First Citizens Clarke Road Uniteds 154 all out.

Premier Division I Day One Scores:

At Syne Village QPCC 136 (51.6 overs) (Kirstan Kallicharan 44; Jovan Ali 4/24) vs POWERGEN PENAL At the National Cricket Centre ALESCON COMETS 79 (21.2 overs) (Dave Samooj 9/9) & 98-3 vs CENTRAL SPORTS 146 (31.5 overs) (Kamil Pooran 52; Kastri Singh 6/48) At Gilbert Park MERRY BOYS 293-8 (90 overs) (Jeetendra Sookdeo 129 n.o., Ranga Lachana 69; Garey Mathurin 6/101) vs VICTORIA SPORTS At Tableland CLARKE ROAD 154 (Tariq Abdool 6/31) vs Tableland 66-3 (Ainsley Sutherland 25 n.o.)

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Central Sports looking to pressure Comets - Trinidad & Tobago Express

Video One: It's hard not to smile after the week the Utica Comets just had. The home town team swept their three game stint, and are currently in the middle of a five game win streak. This current run has the team back in the fourth spot in the North Division, and a magic number of just 34.

Video Two: Comets forward Joe LaBate dropped his gloves, and his afternoon plans to come by the studio. While you might want to call him an enforcer, the 24 year old forward doesn't see himself that way.

Video Three: We jumped into the time machine to relive what draft night was like for Joe LaBate. Plus, we looked back at his four year college career, including his major of choice during his four years at Wisconsin.

Video Four: It's a look at the Comets' upcoming schedule. Blue and green have another three games in three days. They first host Bridgeport (Fri - 03/10), then head out to Lehigh Valley (Sat - 03/11), and finally return home to take on Binghamton (Sun - 03/12). Finally, it's nice to see Utica back in the playoff picture.

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Comets Faceoff - Joe LaBate - WUTR WFXV CNYhomepage