Comets win state crown

The Nevada Comets 16 and under softball team continued their impressive summer run by winning the Amateur Softball Association Nevada State championship.

The Comets went 5-0 in the tournament held over the weekend in Reno. The Comets qualified for the ASA Western Regional event to be held July 12-13 in Paso Robles, Calif.

The Comets opened with an 8-1 win over the Las Vegas Blast. Brittany Puzey was the winning pitcher, throwing a three-hitter and striking out four. Kayla Dunn was 3-for-3 with a triple and four RBIs and Puzey went 2-for-2 with an RBI. Andrea Lazzari was also 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Dunn was dominant in the Comets' next game, a 2-0 win over the Nevada Lightning of Reno. Dunn struck out 15 while pitching a two-hitter and had two hits. Katie Stevens also had two hits, Puzey had a hit and an RBI and Kaycee Wilcks and Lazzari each added hits.

The Comets then beat the Reno Sun Devils 10-5. Puzey was the winning pitcher, striking out five while throwing a six-hitter. Stevens was the big hitter as sne went 4-for-4 with a triple and an RBI. Ashley Hartley also had a huge day as she was 2-for-4 with a triple, home run and three RBIs.

Puzey had two hits and three RBIs and Dunn had two hits and two RBIs. Tasha McCann went 3-for-4 and Calli Fisher added a hit for the Comets.

The Comets advanced to the championship game with a 7-5 win over the Reno Crusaders. Dunn was the winning pitcher, throwing a six-hitter and striking out three.

Stevens was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, Puzey and Lazzari each had a hit and an RBI and Dunn, Hartley, Ashley Arneson and McCann all added hits for the Comets.

In the finals, the Comets beat the Blast 9-2. After the Blast scored two runs, Puzey was the winning pitcher, not allowing a run on three hits while striking out five over 6.2 innings. Puzey was also 2-for-2 with a triple and a home run.

Dunn went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a triple, Lazzari was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs and Stevens had a hit and two RBIs.

The Comets improved to 18-3 on the season. The Comets will host the National Softball Association State Championships July 5-7 at Edmonds Sports Complex. The tournament will feature teams in age divisions from 10 and under to 18 and under.

The Comets have already qualified for the NSA World Tournament to be held July 20-28 in Plano, Texas.