Comets Stun Top Ranked Durant In Regional Semifinal, 2-1

By Ryan Stonebraker

Sports Editor

  DURANT — The Bellevue Comets stunned the class 2A softball world last week in Durant, upsetting the top-ranked Wildcats 2-1 in a Regional Semifinal game in Durant. The Comets advanced to play Wilton in the Region 8 Final after the Beavers upset the #14 ranked Jesup J-Hawks in Jesup.

  The Comets pushed two runs across the plate in the top of the fourth inning to take a 2-0 lead. The Comets had only one baserunner reach base the first time through their batting order. The first Comet run scoring Rebecca Schroeder. Eliza Scheckel doubled and an errant throw allowed Schroeder to score the first run of the game. Later, Grace Tath plated a runner on a RBI groundout to push the lead to 2-0.

  Durant scored their only run in the bottom of the sixth. Hannah Happ led off with a single and promptly stole second base. An error by the Comets would allow Happ to later score putting the score at 2-1.

  Durant had chances. Ruby Kappeler doubled in the first inning, but was left stranded. Later, in the seventh, Durant brought the winning run to the plate, but a game ending double play ended the scoring threat and the game setting off a massive Bellevue celebration.

  Kamryn Meyer took the loss despite pitching very well. Of the 21 outs in the game, Meyer struck out 16 Comet batters. She gave up two runs, one earned, on three hits and did not walk a batter. For the season, Meyer had 235 strikeouts against 29 walks and an outstanding ERA of 0.82. Opposing batters batted only .133 against her this season.

  Durant’s bats produced four hits in the game from four different players. Hannah Happ, Ruby Kappeler, Jalyn Bullard and Jada Rock had hits. Kappeler was a double and Happ had the only Wildcat stolen base.

  Durant ends the season 32-3 and was ranked No. 1 all year by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

  Bellevue won their 16th game of the season with the win. The Comets lost to Durant by one-run, 3-2 back on June 5.

  Grace Tath was the winning pitcher after pitching a complete game and striking out two Wildcats. Tath scattered four hits and gave up an unearned run. Rebecca Schroeder, Eliza Scheckel and Tath had hits for the Comets. Tath had the only RBI in the game.