The Nevada Comets 16 and under softball team had a goal at the beginning of the summer to win a national title.
The Comets accomplished that goal by winning the National Softball Association Super World Series this past weekend, going 4-1 in the event. The Comets, made up of mostly players from Carson and Douglas High Schools, went 47-7 over the summer.
"That's a testament to the girls, especially playing the caliber of teams we played," Comets coach Jim Puzey said. "I've got the best seat in the house. It's been a joy.
"We set out at the beginning of the summer to win a national championship. We peaked at the right time."
The Comets opened the 16-team tournament with a 5-1 win over the Cuyahoga Falls (Ohio) Tigger Lillies. Brittany Puzey was the winning pitcher, allowing four hits and striking out five in six innings.
Leadoff hitter Katie Stevens had two hits, a double and two runs. In all four of the Comets' wins, Stevens led off the game with a hit and scored. Kaycee Wilcks also had two hits, a double and an RBI, Puzey tripled and had an RBI, Kayla Dunn went 2-for-2 with a double and a home run, Sarah Hunt doubled and Ashley Hartley added a hit.
The Comets then beat the Hoover (Ala.) White Lightning 7-1. Dunn was the winning pitcher, allowing three hits and striking out six. Stevens went 2-for-2, Andrea Lazzari doubled twice and had an RBI, Dunn was 1-for-1 with a home run, Hartley and Puzey each had sacrifice flies, Hunt had a hit and an RBI and Wilcks added a hit.
In the semifinals, the Comets beat the Louisiana Magic 7-1. Puzey was the winning pitcher, throwing a one-hitter while striking out four.
Stevens went 3-for-4 with an RBI, Wilcks had a hit and two RBIs, Lazzari went 2-for-3, Hartley was 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI, Katrina Cherry and Katrina Cherry went 2-for-3.
In the championship round, the Comets again faced the Tiger Lillies, losing 7-2. Dunn allowed six hits through 3 2/3 innings and Calli Fisher allowed two hits in 1 2/3 innings. Lazzari doubled, Dunn had a double and an RBI, Hartley went 2-for-2 with a double and a triple and Ashley Arneson and Wilcks added hits.
The Comets came back to beat the Tiger Lillies 9-4 for the title. Puzey scattered nine hits while striking out seven and walking none.
Stevens went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, Wilcks went 2-for-4, Puzey had a double and an RBI, Lazzari had a hit and three RBIs, Dunn had a double and an RBI, Hartley went 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs and Arneson doubled. Also contributing to the title was Tasha McCann.
