Comeback Comets move on

EDDYVILLE - Cardinal had to score a thrilling comeback victory in the Class 2A District 11 championship at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont on Saturday. After going scoreless for four innings, the Comets collected six runs over the final three fames for a 6-2 victory.

The comets struggled to score early, but stuck in the game thanks to some more clutch pitching by Landon Becker and Jentry Arbogast, two hurlers who threw shutouts in previous postseason games. Despite a cole first four innings at the plate, the Comets trailed just 2-0 going into the fifth inning.

Cardinal scored one run in the top of the fifth to cut the Rocket lead in half. A three-run sixth inning led to a 4-2 Comet lead, and after Arbogast shut EBF down in the bottom of the sixth, Cardinal put up two insurance runs in the seventh.

Logan Chickering went 2-for-3 with two RBIs to lead the Cardinal offense. Ryan Clark was 1-for-2 with two RBIs, and Arbogast went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Arbogast came into the game in the third inning and wound up getting a win, throwing four and two-thirds shutout innings. He didn't give up a single hit to the Rockets and struck out 11 batters, while just walking one.

Cardinal has now won an incredible nine games in a row after starting the season 1-3. If they get their 10th win in a row, it will be a huge one, as they take on No. 1 Van Meter in the Class 2A Substate 6 championship on Tuesday.