Comets 2nd at Fairfield tourney

FAIRFIELD - This weekend marked the Fairfield softball team’s annual home tournament, and the Union coverage area had four horses in the race this time around.

Fairfield, Mt. Pleasant, Cardinal and Van Buren County made up half of the eight-team field, which battled for the Trojan tournament title. Cardinal faired the best, going 2-1 with a trip to the championship game.

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Cardinal’s outstanding pitching and stingy defense gave opponents fits all weekend, including the hosting Trojans, which Cardinal faced off with in the first round.

Cardinal knocked Fairfield off, 5-0, behind a no-hitter by Maclain Hickenbottom, struck nine Trojans out over seven innings, walking just two batters and hitting one en route to victory.

Freshman Sophia Brown had two hits against hte Trojans, including the game’s only home run. She went 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs, and Erika Haines knocked in one run.

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Hickenbottom continued to shine in Saturday’s semifinals. The Comets knocked off No. 15 (3A) Central Lee, 5-1, behind another dominant outing by the sophomore hurler, and a late two-run blast by Summer LaRue that, at the time, put the Comets up 5-0 in the bottom of the sixth.

““We’ve learned a lot,” said Cardinal coach LaRue. “It’s been a team effort, all around hitting and great pitching.”

The Comets couldn’t quite keep the magic going against 11th-ranked (3A) and undefeated Albia in the championship game later that day. The Lady Dees scored three runs in the fourth and two in the sixth to win their first-ever Fairfield tournament on a 5-0 victory.

“These girls have put in the work,” said Coach LaRue. “We get good numbers every year, and the leadership is really strong.”

Van Buren County finished sixth place, going 1-2. The Comets were knocked out of the winner’s bracket on Friday night against Mediapolis, falling 12-4, but bounced back Saturday morning against Mt. Pleasant.

The Warriors knocked off the Panthers 13-1 in the consolation semifinals on Saturday. Freshman Teagan Sickels had a huge game for the Warriors, going 2-for-2 with a double nad five RBIs, while Lexie Wiley and Alicia Cumberland each knocked in two.

Cumberland picked up the win in the circle, giving up just one earned run on two hits.

In the fifth-place game, the Warriors were done in by No. 12 (3A) Chariton, falling 9-1.

Fairfield and Mt. Pleasant were each 0-2 going into the seventh-place game on Saturday evening. The Trojans beat the Panthers 7-1 to end the tournament on the right note.

Fairfield’s Leah Helmick went yard in the game, going 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and two RBIs. Faith Jones was 4-for-4 with two RBIs. Emma Septer, Emmelia Miller nad Maddy Martin all knocked in runs.

Helmick was in the circle for the victorious Trojans. She threw all seven innings, giving up one earned run on six hits and two walks, while striking out four batters.

Jolynn Martin and Chaley Cook each saw the circle for Mt. Pleasant, combining to give up seven earned runs on 10 hits and four walks. Cook led the offense, going 1-for-3 with a double.

Keagyn Coleman, Saige Burchett, Izzy Sloat and Paityn Ensminger all had hits for the Panthers.

FINAL TOURNAMENT STANDINGS

1. Albia

2. Cardinal

3. Central Lee

4. Mediapolis

5. Chariton

6. Van Buren County

7. Fairfield

8. Mt. Pleasant