Thurness’ heroics saves Comets’ season – Muscatine Journal

When Breana Thurness saw the throw from the West Burlington Notre Dame shortstop sail over the first basemans head, she couldnt help but smile as she dashed to home plate.

As the junior stomped on the plate, she capped off a three-run really in the bottom of the seventh that allowed West Liberty to top West Burlington, 5-4, in the Class 3A regional softball semifinal Friday.

"Im just glad that I got to have this because this is something Ill remember forever, Thurness said. I was so excited I just wanted to give the team a hug. It was a big moment.

It took some heroics from Thurness to even put the Comets in that position. They trailed 4-2 entering the seventh inning and with two runners on base and one out, she trailed 0-2 in the pitch count. She fought back, and eventually ripped a double down the third-base line to score two runs and tie the game.

Shes a good hitter, coach Dave Reynolds said. Shell drive the ball that way all the time. She probably deserves some all-league votes but didnt get them.

If things had gone just a little differently, that scenario never would have played out. Reynolds forgot to re-enter Thurness into the lineup, but West Burlington coach David Oleson didnt question it until Thurness was on second base after already tying the game with her two-RBI double. Had he noticed while she was in the batters box, she would have been out before having a chance to hit, which would have been West Libertys second out of the inning.

Thats a miscue I wont make again, Reynolds said.

Before all of that, the Comets appeared to be in complete control of the game entering the seventh inning after an RBI single by sophomore Skylar Wendt to break a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the sixth. With the way junior pitcher Emma Martin had been hitting her spots through six innings, Reynolds said he thought they had the Falcons.

But the Falcons finally got to Martin and scored three runs in the top of the seventh to take a 4-2 lead. Even so, there was no panic in the Comets.

I knew we would start hitting the ball, Reynolds said. I could see it in those captains' eyes when we came up to bat. I never give up on these guys and they never cease to amaze me.

Reynolds said his entire team, even the young players, hasnt been fazed by pressure all season, and it was more of the same Friday night. At a time where it would have been easy to sulk, the Comets entered the seventh inning ready to make the Falcons work for the win.

Sophomore Macy Akers started the bottom of the seventh with a walk, and senior Haddie Anderson followed with a single on the next at-bat. Freshman Austyn Crees sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position for Thurness, who was confident even though she was 0-for-1 at that point.

You just have to stay positive through everything, Thurness said. Even if youre nervous, you have to stay strong. The team always has your back, and thats kind of what calmed me down is I know I have them to fall back to.

But Thurness came through in the biggest moment of the night, and after narrowly avoiding a tag on a ground ball to the short stop, made it clear home to clinch the Comets biggest win of the season and a birth in the regional championship.

West Liberty will now face its biggest test of the season in Davenport Assumption in the regional championship Monday night in Davenport. Assumption is 39-1, and its only loss came in its first game, to Moline 4-3.

We have to come out and play the best we can, Reynolds said. Whatever happens, happens. Its a tall task, but theyre up for it. Well leave it all out on the field.