Comets mark first wins against conference teams in years
By Jennifer Cesarz
Correspondent
It was a history-making week for the Delavan-Darien High School softball team as it beat not one, but two Southern Lakes Conference teams that it hasn’t beaten in years.
After suffering a doubleheader loss to Union Grove on May 6, the Comets (10-8) went on to beat Wilmot, 4-3 in extra innings and Burlington, 3-2, also in extra innings.
“We are playing very good softball right now and the girls have been working hard,” D-DHS head coach Hank Johnson said via email. “We recently have beaten some teams that we haven’t before and were starting to get some respect in our conference.”
“All the credit goes to the girls who have been working hard to show others that we are good,” Johnson said. “However we have a long way to go to convince some people in the area, and we will use that as motivation throughout this season and in the offseason.”
Saturday the Comets traveled to Belmont for the Belmont Softball Jamboree where they went 1-1 after beating Platteville 17-7 but lost to Orangeville, Ill., 7-5.
In Union Grove the Comets had only seven hits in the two games and they lost, 5-0 and 9-0.
Jennah Speth took the loss in Game One and Morgan Benzing had the loss in Game Two.
Things changed quickly for the Comets on May 7 when they hosted Wilmot and won in eight innings, 4-3.
Wilmot held a 2-0 lead through the top of the fifth inning until the Comets got on the board in the bottom of the inning, making it 2-1.
Wilmot added to that lead in the sixth inning, scoring one, taking the 3-1 lead.
After holding Wilmot scoreless in the top of the seventh inning, the Comets tied things up at 3-3 in the bottom of the inning, taking the game into extra innings.
After keeping Wilmot from scoring in the top of the eighth inning, the Comets found themselves with bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, and Sam Hoyord became a hero when her hit over the left fielder’s head put the Comets up 4-3, getting the conference win.
Hoyord finished the night with three hits and one RBI.
Cindy Crawford added two hits for the Comets and Brooke Boss, Emily Moyer, Katelyn Gonzalez, Speth, Shelbie Greidanus and Amber Reed had one hit each.
Speth recorded the win, striking out three and walking two.
The Comets did it again May 9, this time winning in nine innings.
The Comets jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning before the Demons took the lead in the fourth inning, going up 2-1.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Comets tied things up at 2-2.
Neither team scored in the seventh or eighth innings, sending the game into the ninth inning when the Comets scored a run, taking the 3-2 victory.
Speth picked up her second win of the week, striking out 12 and walking three.
Brooke Boss had three hits in the game and one RBI.
Saturday in Belmont the Comets lost to Orangeville, Ill., 7-5, but beat Platteville, 17-7.
In the loss to Orangeville, Speth recorded the loss, striking out nine and walking only one.
Speth led the Comets offensively, going 4-for-4 with two RBIs
Cristina Bahaveolos was 2-for-3 and Benzing was 2-for-5.
In the game against Platteville, the Comet bats exploded, collecting 22 hits after falling behind 4-0 in the first inning.
The Comets scored two runs in the second, third and fourth innings and six runs in the fifth and five in the seventh to go on for the 17-5 win.
Speth got the win, striking out 12 and walking two.
Speth also had four hits in the game with two RBIs.
Hoyord, Reed, Boss and Crawford all had three hits, and Gonzalez, Benzing and Bahaveolos had two hits each.
Tonight starts Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Regional action, and the Comets received the No. 2 seed, giving them a bye.
May 21 the Comets will host the winner of Clinton versus Whitewater at 4:45 p.m.
