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Schmidt comes through for Comets

Charles City junior Tayler Schmidt is one of the top hitters in the state.

On Tuesday night, Schmidt was given not only a second, but a third chance, to hurt Fairfield. And she took advantage.

Schmidt reached on a walk and scored the game-winning run when senior Shantel VanHauen delivered a ball to the outfield, lifting the No. 14 Comets to the Class 4A state semifinals with a 5-4 victory at Rogers Park.

Charles City (33-6 overall) now faces No. 4 Ballard on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. on Diamond 2.

After belting a solo home run in the third that easily cleared the fences, Schmidt led off the seventh. She popped up a ball that forced Trojan catcher Sara Trent against the fence, keeping her from making the out. A few pitches later, Fairfield’s Haley Beard was called for an illegal pitch on a flyout by Schmidt.

“I knew when I got a second and third chance that we were going to get it done this inning,” Schmidt said. “I was really mad at myself for popping out and I thought I was done before the illegal pitch.

“I guess the third time was the charm.”

Sara Martin followed with a single, both Schmidt and Martin advanced on an out and VanHauen sent off a celebration at home plate with her hit.

“It’s the best feeling ever,” VanHauen said. “I feel like we really believed in ourselves that we could do this. We made them pay for their mistakes and didn’t give the game away; instead, we took it.”

Ciana Sonberg was 3-for-4 with two RBI for the Comets.

Fairfield (33-10), making a third consecutive trip to Rogers Park, moves into Wednesday’s consolation games. Kaylee Watson had a pair of RBI for the Trojans, including a home run.

CHARLES CITY 5, FAIRFIELD 4

Fairfield 003 001 0 — 4 5 4

Charles City 211 000 1 — 5 8 3

Haley Beard (L, 15-5, 6 2/3 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 4 K, 4 BB) and Sara Trent; Samantha Heyer (W, 23-5, 7 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 K, 5 BBand Ciana Sonberg. HR–F: Kaylee Watson; CC: Ciana Sonberg, Tayler Schmidt. RBI–F: Kaylee Watson (2), Brynna Bowman; CC: Ciana Sonberg (2), Bailey Mitchell, Tayler Schmidt., Shantel VanHauen.

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