GRATIOT - Few can blame the Albany softball team if it develops a swagger after the Comets beat Black Hawk 10-1 for the first time in several years Monday.
"They (Black Hawk) have been dominant since I have been here," Albany coach Connie Wunschel said.
Wunschel said in her three seasons at Albany, she doesn't recall the Comets defeating the Warriors.
"Our biggest fear was the hitting," Wunschel said. "We have been winning games without hitting. Our bats woke up tonight."
There were no offensive struggles for Albany (9-3, 8-2 Six Rivers East) Monday night in Gratiot. The Comets were clinging to a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning. Hayli Peach led off the sixth with a walk. Clare Koopmans singled. Stephanie Peach then delivered an RBI-infield single. Katie Sutherland followed with an RBI-single to give the Comets a 4-1 lead.
The Comets broke the game open, batting around the order in a six-run seventh. Hayli Peach reached on an error. Koopmans followed with an RBI single. Stephanie Peach again delivered an RBI-single to extend the Comets' lead to 6-1. The big hit in the seventh came on Amy Golz's two-run triple to left that gave the Comets an insurmountable 9-1 lead.
"Before, we couldn't hit until the sixth inning," said Stephanie Peach, who was 3-for-4. "It feels really good to start it off right away. We really wanted to win this. I think it (the hits) give everyone more confidence."
The Comets pounded out 17 hits and were led by Koopmans (3-for-4) and Angie Masseur (3-for-5).
Black Hawk coach Roger Jackson gave props to Tara Walz, who limited the Warriors to one run.
"You aren't going to win many games with four hits and scoring one run," Jackson said. "We were not going to beat them with the way they hit it. This one got away."
Black Hawk drops to 9-6 overall and 6-4 in the league.
The Comets still are alive for a share of the Six Rivers East Conference championship. Albany will resume a suspended game against Argyle at 4 p.m. today in Albany. If the Comets defeat Argyle in a game suspended in the fourth and win the nightcap, a co-championship would be in the cards. Argyle has a 5-3 lead with one out in the fourth of the suspended game. Megan Schulz is schedule to bat with the bases loaded.
"If she hits the ball like she did tonight, we are going to be in good shape," Wunschel said.
"They (Black Hawk) have been dominant since I have been here," Albany coach Connie Wunschel said.
Wunschel said in her three seasons at Albany, she doesn't recall the Comets defeating the Warriors.
"Our biggest fear was the hitting," Wunschel said. "We have been winning games without hitting. Our bats woke up tonight."
There were no offensive struggles for Albany (9-3, 8-2 Six Rivers East) Monday night in Gratiot. The Comets were clinging to a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning. Hayli Peach led off the sixth with a walk. Clare Koopmans singled. Stephanie Peach then delivered an RBI-infield single. Katie Sutherland followed with an RBI-single to give the Comets a 4-1 lead.
The Comets broke the game open, batting around the order in a six-run seventh. Hayli Peach reached on an error. Koopmans followed with an RBI single. Stephanie Peach again delivered an RBI-single to extend the Comets' lead to 6-1. The big hit in the seventh came on Amy Golz's two-run triple to left that gave the Comets an insurmountable 9-1 lead.
"Before, we couldn't hit until the sixth inning," said Stephanie Peach, who was 3-for-4. "It feels really good to start it off right away. We really wanted to win this. I think it (the hits) give everyone more confidence."
The Comets pounded out 17 hits and were led by Koopmans (3-for-4) and Angie Masseur (3-for-5).
Black Hawk coach Roger Jackson gave props to Tara Walz, who limited the Warriors to one run.
"You aren't going to win many games with four hits and scoring one run," Jackson said. "We were not going to beat them with the way they hit it. This one got away."
Black Hawk drops to 9-6 overall and 6-4 in the league.
The Comets still are alive for a share of the Six Rivers East Conference championship. Albany will resume a suspended game against Argyle at 4 p.m. today in Albany. If the Comets defeat Argyle in a game suspended in the fourth and win the nightcap, a co-championship would be in the cards. Argyle has a 5-3 lead with one out in the fourth of the suspended game. Megan Schulz is schedule to bat with the bases loaded.
"If she hits the ball like she did tonight, we are going to be in good shape," Wunschel said.
