Bandits topple Comets again

Still trying to get comfortable in Sprenger Stadium, the Cleveland Comets jumped to an early lead, but couldn’t contain the bats of the Chicago Bandits late as the Comets fell, 9-4, on Aug. 4.

The Comets took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. After surrendering a pair of runs in the top of the third, they answered with a two-run single off the bat of Alexa Peterson to regain the lead at 3-2.

“That’s been what we’ve done all year. I’ve just told them to keep fighting and never give up and I think that you see that with my offense,” Comets manager Charlotte Morgan said. “They keep trying. They keep grinding, the defense keeps trying to make plays. It’ll fall, it’ll fall our way, they just got a couple of big long balls on us.”

After retaking the lead, the Bandits scored four unanswered runs to distance themselves from the Comets.

Needing a jolt in the offense, Northeast Ohio native Jenna Lilley found a gap in the defense for an RBI double for the Comets.

Chicago turned to fireballer Ally Carda to end the rally and finish out the game strong. Carda came in blazing pitches in at 7072 mph on the gun, an MLB equivalent of over 100 mph.

“Definitely she’s throwing gas, I’ve played with her and I’ve played against her, so her coming in after the one who’s more soft and spinny is a big difference,” Lilley said. “You have 62 and really good spin and then 70 and really good rise ball spin, definitely a change.”

The Comets surrendered another three runs in the top half of the seventh.

“As long as we give ourselves a chance to win, I think that’s our biggest thing,” Morgan said. “We’ve got to eliminate the runs in the seventh inning, because it’s a game and then we gave up four in the seventh last night, three tonight. So, we alleviate that and that still gives us a chance to at least tie it up in the seventh.

“I think we’re doing a good job, we just have to be able to finish it.”

For Lilley, the end of this one stung a little less than on the road with family on hand to see her play without having to travel to the game.

A graduate of North Canton Hoover, Lilley took her game to the University of Oregon after four straight state championships. After spending four years out in Eugene, Ore., Lilley said she’s enjoyed getting to see family and friends, without breaking the bank.

“It’s definitely cool to be able to come back and have some family here almost every night, so that’s nice for them to be able to come out and see me play without having to pay $400 for a plane ticket and travel however many hours to see me,” Lilley said. “So it means a lot to be back.”

Being able to keep a local star at home, Morgan said it’s a positive impact to have someone familiar with the area back where it all started for her.

“I think it’s good, I think it’s good to actually have a crowd too and have people around, so it think it’s good to see,” Morgan said. “I think both sides have enjoyed playing with each other the whole summer.”

The Comets will look to take the first National Pro Fastpitch game against Chicago Aug. 5 at 2 p.m.

“It’s definitely cool to be able to come back and have some family here almost every night.” — Comets player Ally Carda