Comets eliminated in nationals

The Nevada Comets 14 and under softball team suffered another tough, one-run loss to be eliminated from the tournament, but still had a successful run at the ASA National Championships.

The Comets defeated Hit and Run of Oklahoma City 7-2 before losing to the South Texas Magic 3-2 on Friday in Broken Arrow, Okla. The Comets finished the 88-team tournament in third place. The Comets finished 4-3 overall and 3-2 in the double elimination tournament. Throughout the tournament, Comets pitchers allowed just one earned run.

Against Hit and Run, Brittany Puzey pitched six innings for the win, allowing one hit while walking one and striking out eight. Calli Fisher came on to pitch the fourth inning, allowing two unearned runs while striking out one.

The Comets took a 3-0 lead in the third when Katie Stevens singled and Puzey doubled. Fisher followed with a two-run double. The Comets extended their lead to 5-0 in the fourth as Jackie Trombley tripled and Malary Engstrom doubled to highlight the rally.

In the seventh, Stevens, Puzey and Andrea Lazzari all singled and Kayla Dunn followed with a two-run single.

Stevens and Puzey each had three hits and Stevie Smith added a hit.

Against South Texas, Dunn was the losing pitcher, allowing two hits through 4 2/3 innings. Puzey allowed no hits over 1 1/3 innings.

Stevens singled and scored to tie the game 1-1 in the fourth. The Comets took a 2-1 lead in the fifth when Smith, who had singled, scored on Engstrom's sacrifice fly.

But a two-run single for South Texas with two outs in the bottom of the fifth gave it a 3-2 lead. Trombley and Shawna Vandeburgt added hits for the Comets.