By Kevin Cunningham
Correspondent
After starting the season 13-0 overall, the Delavan-Darien High School softball team lost four of its next five games, dropping to 14-4, losing to some of the top teams in Division 1. Last week, the team had a chance to get back to its winning ways, playing five games, and did just that.
Starting on May 9 in a Southern Lakes Conference game against Burlington on the road, the Comets defeated Burlington 6-2 after losing to the Demons 10-9 three days prior. Three Comets ended the game with two hits apiece, and Morgyn DeLara scored two runs to go along with her 2-for-3 showing at the plate.
Jennah Speth earned the win on the mound, striking out nine batters in seven innings pitched while allowing two runs. On May 12, the team faced another SLC foe in Waterford, on the road, and again, came out on top, 6-3.
The Comets held the lead throughout the first game of the week against Burlington and did the same against Waterford, thanks to a three-run first inning. Taylor McKinney knocked in four runs in the game while Speth hit a home run.
Jaida Speth started the game on the mound and earned the victory on 4.1 innings pitched. The final 2.2 innings went Jennah Speth’s way.
A day later, the team played Big Foot at home and continued its winning ways with a 10-0 victory. Thanks to an eight-run first inning, the Comets cruised the entire way. Five different batters recorded at least one RBI in the game, led by Jennah Speth’s three.
Jennah Speth also pitched all five innings in the contest, striking out 10 hitters. The next day, the Comets participated in the Walworth County Softball Invitational and first faced East Troy.
In this one, the Comets finally faced a deficit in the week, trailing in the first inning, 1-0. Once the team got a chance to bat, though, they answered with two runs and never trailed after the top-half of the first inning.
Five different Delavan-Darien players earned a walk in the game, and Jennah Speth led all players at the plate again with three RBIs. DeLara added two, eventually leading to the 6-1 victory.
After the East Troy win, the Comets advanced to the championship game where they faced Whitewater. The first inning was once again kind to the Comets, as after the initial inning was complete, the team led, 5-0. Three more runs ensued in the second inning, and the team then led 8-1.
Four more runs were scored and the Comets ended the invitational with a 12-3 win in the title game. Jennah Speth went 3-for-4 at the plate while Katelyn went 3-for-5. Both players recorded two RBIs apiece.
Jaida Speth pitched the game, going all seven innings while allowing three runs and striking out eight batters. Comets head coach Hank Johnson said the team played great over the entire week even though the temperatures were freezing. The team is now 19-4 overall thanks to its 5-0 week with just three games remaining on its regular season schedule.
The team was set to host Badger on Monday and Westosha Central on Tuesday before its final game against Union Grove on the road on Thursday.
