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Comets top No. 17 St. Louis, reign as Region 16 champs
A successful title defense came to fruition Saturday in Farmington (Mo.), as the Cottey Comets toppled the No. 17 ranked St. Louis Community College Lady Archers 4-1, to claim back-to-back NJCAA Division II Region 16 softball championships.
Cottey’s level of success seemed almost unthinkable just two years ago, as the Comet softball program had concluded a three-year run (2014-16) 3-74 overall. Cottey now stands tall as repeat Region 16 champs.
Cottey (28-6) entered the Region 16 double-elimination tournament as the two-seed, knocking off No. 3 seed, and tourney host Mineral Area College in Friday’s opener, 3-1. The victory vaulted Cottey into the winner’s bracket, and a match-up with top-seeded St. Louis. In early-April, the Lady Archers rolled into Nevada and ended Cottey’s school-record 18-game win streak, taking three of four games over a two-day period.
Cottey, however, avenged those losses in emphatic fashion, beginning with Friday evening’s 15-1, five inning run-rule drubbing of the Lady Archers.
“We were better prepared this time around against St. Louis,” noted Cottey second-year head coach Mark Skapin, as his squad appeared to be on a mission.
Kirsten Wallace, Cottey’s star freshman pitcher from White Hall, Arkansas, dazzled in the circle. Wallace scattered five hits, while striking out four and yielding an unearned run over five innings of work.
Wallace greatly aided her own cause at the dish, finishing 3-for-3 with four RBI and three runs scored. Meanwhile, the Comets struck early and often, plating four runs in the first, five in the second, four in the third — and then tacked on a pair in the fourth for good measure.
Cottey’s Ashlyn Robertson drove in thee runs, while Hannah Bridges and Jackie Nix collected two-RBI apiece.
In the circle for St. Louis, starter Sarah Shepard was chased after just one inning — surrendering eight runs (six earned), while issuing three walks.
The perfect Friday put the Comets in the drivers seat, as the only unbeaten team in the tournament.
St. Louis (28-13) rebounded Saturday, edging Mineral Area 5-4, to advance to the championship round with Cottey. As was the case last year, the Lady Archers needed two victories over the Comets to secure the Region 16 crown, while Cottey needed just one.
Looking to make a perfect run through the tourney, Skapin turned to ace Wallace for Saturday’s (game one) championship clash with St. Louis. In the biggest game of the season, Wallace (15-2) delivered — spinning a complete-game, three-hit gem.
“Kirsten dominated in the circle,” summed up Skapin, as the freshman phenom allowed just four balls to leave the infield. “St. Louis never truly threatened.”
Bridges’ third-inning RBI-single put the Comets on top 1-0. Cottey then padded its cushion with a pair of fourth-inning runs, courtesy of Katie Fernandez’s RBI-double, followed by a Lily Brockus squeez bunt, plating a run — as Cottey led 3-0.
The Comets then added some insurance in the fifth, as Nix’s run-scoring single-handed the Comets a 4-0 advantage.
It wasn’t until the seventh when St. Louis finally broke through against Wallace, with an unearned run charged to the star hurler. It wasn’t enough, however, as Wallace slammed the door shut on St. Louis — sending the Comets to their second Region 16 crown in as many seasons.
“I can't say enough about how hard this team has worked over the last two weeks, training specifically for this opponent,” said Skapin of his team’s impending collision course with St. Louis. “We kind of stopped preparing for many of our games over the last few weeks, and only focused on getting ready for St. Louis.”
Added Skapin, “winning the Region 16 title was our most important goal this season — and to do that, we knew we had to go through St. Louis.”
Skapin said his club was “not disciplined at all” while dropping three of four to the Lady Archers earlier this month. Notably, Skapin said the Comets made major adjustments the second time around against St. Louis ace, Shepard.
“(Shepard) came into the regular-season meetings with a good game-plan, and we struggled,” he said. “The two weeks of preparation, led to the team being able to work seven walks against her in the semifinal game yesterday.”
The Comets faced 13-game winner Hannah Marquardt in Saturday’s match-up with St. Louis. Marquardt notched two victories against the Comets during the April 8-9 meetings.
“We had prepared for her as well,” Skapin said, as sophomore catcher Rayne Wright collected a pair of hits in the deciding game. “We executed on offense, and the defense played great behind Kirsten. Winning back-to-back titles in my first two years here was never a goal for me, and we are well ahead of schedule. I'm very proud of what this program has accomplished in (my) first two years. Hopefully, we can keep it going at districts (May 10-11).”
Cottey accolades
Wallace, the tournament’s defacto MVP, and Wright, were Region 16 First-Team selections. Meanwhile, freshman Emily Killion, whose standout performance lifted the Comets to their opening-game victory over Mineral Area, along with middle infielder Izzy Millgan — were tabbed as second-team selections.
“I can’t say enough about what Kirsten and Rayne have done for this team since coming in this year,” marveled Skapin of the dynamic duo. “They certainly deserve to be on the first team. Emily and Izzy also deserve that distinction, because they have helped make this program and season what it is. I’m not sure exactly how the voting worked out, but they are extremely grateful for their second-team honors.”
Continued Skapin, “I believe that we should have received more recognition overall in this process, as we had some amazing student-athletes that fell just short. I believe that they had a lot to prove this weekend.”
For a second consecutive season, Skapin was named Region 16 Coach of the Year.
“I’m humbled and honored to receive this award for the second time,” he told the Daily Mail Saturday night. “It is truly a reflection of our student-athletes, and what they have done for this program.”
Comets to host district clash
Cottey is slated to host the NJCAA Division II Region 16 championship series — May 10-11 at Vanek Family Memorial Field in Nevada — with Cottey’s opponent to be determined.
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