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Cottey Comets softball swept in season opener at home
"We're just glad to finally be playing." Many of his players echoed the sentiments of Cottey College head softball coach Greg Tietz heading into Thursday's home doubleheader against the Ravens of Coffeyville Community College.
The Comets were scheduled to open the spring season against Coffeyville on Feb. 23, but cold weather and poor field conditions forced the postponement of those contests. Two other doubleheaders were on the schedule between that day and Thursday, but both of those were also postponed due to weather, thus giving the Comets an extended offseason.
When the new date for the season opener finally rolled around, the Comets came into action hoping the rust would wear off their game quickly. It looked as though the Comets would be able to get the momentum swing they were looking for to start the year as Brianna Blacklock catapulted Cottey to a 1-0 lead after just one inning of play.
The Ravens were having none of that, however, as they responded quickly touching Cottey starter Megan Steffens for five runs in the top of the second. That rally that began with an error in right field gave the Ravens a substantial boost and seemingly took the wind out of the Comets' sails early as Coffeyville took a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the second.
By the time the top of the fourth rolled around, the Comets had regained the lead thanks to a run in the home half of the second and a strong four-run rally in the third. The Ravens wasted little time regaining the momentum once again as they put up their second five-run inning of the contest to take a 10-6 lead with the help of three home runs in the frame.
The Comets attempted to cut into the lead in the home half of the fifth inning, but were only able to manage one more run in the contest. Coffeyville, on the other hand, mounted another strong rally on the heels of two more home runs by Amber Allen and Shandi Crossley -- the second round-tripper of the game for each player.
That rally ultimately netted seven more runs and a 17-7 Ravens victory in six innings.
The Comets got their shot at redemption just a matter of minutes after the conclusion of that game as the two teams took the field once again for the nightcap. That contest was much closer in the beginning, but still ultimately resulted in a run-rule victory for the Ravens.
Things started out well for the Comets once again in the evening's second game as pitcher Jamie Penick helped her own cause with an RBI in the bottom of the first inning. That was ultimately all the offense the Comets could muster throughout the duration of the contest, however, as the Ravens went on to complete the sweep with a 10-1 victory.
Penick looked as though she may be able to make that single run hold up through the early innings as she shut the Ravens out through the first three frames. Thanks to two consecutive miscues by Penick to start the fourth inning, however, that dominance came to a quick and forceful end.
The Ravens wasted little time in taking full advantage of the defensive missteps for the Comets and by the time the inning came to an end, Coffeyville had converted five Cottey errors into six runs to open up a 6-1 lead.
Things continued to go downhill for the Comets as Coffeyville added four more runs with one last rally in the top of the fifth inning to take a 10-1 victory in five innings by the run rule.
With those losses, the Comets opened the season with an 0-2 record and will be back in action on March 18, when they host the Falcons of East Central College.