Charles City softball comes back in 9-5 playoff win over Waterloo East

(ABC 6 News) — On a beautiful evening out in Comet country, only one orange-wearing team would be left standing.

Charles City Comets softball began its playoff run in the Class 4A-6 Bracket against the Waterloo East Trojans on Thursday.

In the early going things seemed poised for a blowout, Waterloo East senior Jocelyn Foss belted a two-run homer to center field in the first inning. The Trojans kept the heat on the Comets when junior Haley Harn singled up the middle for another run. Waterloo East added another run via error to lead 4-0 after the first inning, a far cry from the record with which they entered, 5-26.

But sure enough, Brian Bohlen’s Comets would whittle away at the deficit over time. Charles City scored its first couple of runs via bunts, adding another run off a sacrifice fly. With a little patience at the plate and breaks off Trojan errors, the Comets scored an astounding six runs in the fourth inning, the momentum would carry them to the 9-5 victory.

"It obviously feels good winning the first round at home," Comets senior Lydia Staudt said after the game. "It’s a lot of fun. A big thing we try to focus on is our energy and clearly when you have energy in the dugout that carries through not only batting but into the field."

"We knew that we had to win this game, obviously you know to keep on going," fellow Comets senior Rachel Chambers stated. "It’s survive and advance and everything like that. We’re just here to have fun and keep going. That’s all. It’s really what we’re here to do, just play the game and that’s what we’ve been doing all year."

The Comets will hit the road for a Class 4A-6 Semifinal as they take on the 24-15 Benton Bobcats this Saturday at 7 PM.