Local Sports

Jul 6, 2017

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON BCLUW pinch-runner Parker Scurr slides into second base off a steal attempt in the top of the first inning while Aplington-Parkersburg second baseman Maddie Waller catches the throw-out attempt in the Comets 16-0 win over the Falcons on Wednesday evening.

CONRAD The last time a highly ranked BCLUW team faced off against Aplington-Parkersburg in the first round of regionals, the 20-win Comets lost to the six-win Falcons in a 1-0 tilt that cut a promising season short in 2015.

On Wednesday, when the two teams met up in a similar fashion, Class 2A No. 12 BCLUW was clearly out to wash that two-year-old taste from its mouth as the Comets took a 4-0 lead in the first inning and stretched it all the way to 16-0 by the end of the third, securing a spot in the semifinal round of the Region 3 tournament.

Senior and winning pitcher Samantha Ubben, who was just coming up through the ranks last time these teams faced off in regionals, said the team definitely didnt lack for motivation in its quarterfinal match.

I was on that team when we lost to A-P so it was kind of revenge in a way, Ubben said after the win. I was just starting to play varsity my sophomore year, so this game kind of meant a lot and obviously our goal is state so we have to take it as seriously as we could and I think we really did that.

Ubben was perfect in her two innings of work Wednesday night, striking out four and retiring all six batters she faced with relative ease. Junior Lauren Anderson closed out the third inning with one hit, one walk and one strike out.

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON Comets pitcher Lauren Anderson delivers a strike to catcher Kate Goecke during the third and final inning of BCLUWs 16-0 rout of Aplington-Parkersburg on Wednesday in Conrad. Anderson pitched the final frame, giving up one hit while striking out one.

Due to a coin flip before the game, the Comets were actually the away team though they were playing at home, and Ubben said a furious first inning of batting helped her out before she took the mound.

I had to think it was a big game, the girls who were up there could hit the ball even though they arent the best team or whatever, she said. I really focused on that and batting-wise we had to treat it like we were away, not think we are at home. Start off well early because we were visitors.

Every BCLUW batter came to the plate in the first inning, and every batter made an appearance in the second inning as well. Four Comets Ubben, seniors Leah Yantis and Sara Sharp and sophomore Easton Swanson were perfect swinging the bat against A-P (7-13), with Yantis leading the way by going 4-for-4 with two RBIs. Ubben, Sharp and Swanson all went 3-for-3 at the plate, with Ubben driving in two RBIs, Sharp recording an RBI and three runs, and Swanson scoring three times while knocking in two RBIs.

Yantis, who has hit safely in each of her last eight at bats, said her approach at the plate makes it easier to knock down hits.

I can hit, I know I can hit, and if I swing for the fences its not going to happen so if I just poke it, it will do whatever I want it to, she said. Its just a mental game, hitting is not just a talent, you can do it if you put the bat on the ball. Throughout the years you get the hang of it. Most people think oh I want to hit it super hard! but its not really that, if you just put the bat on the ball it will go.

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON

After BCLUWs conference title win against West Marshall Monday night, head coach David Lee said Yantis is the cog that makes his offense go. Yantis said having that kind of role on the team is no problem considering the experience she has playing for the Comets.

Youd think its a lot of pressure but after doing it for a while and as a senior you kind of do what you want and people will follow, she said. If you make it look easy everyone thinks they can do it and that builds their confidence. I try my hardest to help everyone get more confidence throughout the year and I think we have done a pretty good job putting the bat on the ball.

Though the team seemed to thoroughly enjoy every hit and every run scored against the Falcons, Lee said his team was more focused on making sure they are playing at their best, rather than avenging a loss from when he wasnt even coaching.

It wasnt really on our mind, we just have to play and do our thing and play our game, but we did mention it this morning in batting practice just to get everyone focused on whats going on, Lee said. Everybody knows what peoples records are, but you look at any level the pros, college, anything upsets happen when somebody is not ready to play. Everybody has athletic people, and if someone gets things going sometimes you dont get it shut off before you get it turned around. We were determined not to let that happen.

Up next for the Comets is 2A No. 13 South Hamilton, a team they lost to way back in their second game of the season. Ubben said both teams have come a long way since that game in late May, and neither team is looking to end their postseason run just yet.

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON

We did lose to South Hamilton at the beginning of the year so that will be another game we are looking for revenge in a way, she said. Lauren and I split that game and we arent the same team we were when we faced them but neither are they, so we want to go out and play hard.

That game for the right to play for the Region 3 title will be at 7 p.m. in Conrad on Friday.

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Comets carve up Aplington-Parkersburg 16-0 in three innings - Marshalltown Times Republican