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Wallace tosses five-inning perfect game, Comets extend record win streak to 17
Freshman pitching sensation Kirsten Wallace’s five-inning perfect game propelled the Cottey Comet softball team to a doubleheader sweep of the visiting North Arkansas Pioneers.
Playing in frigid conditions Wednesday afternoon at Vanek Family Memorial Field, the Comets blanked North Arkansas in the opener, 12-0, behind Wallace’s dominant pitching.
Cottey’s superb pitching carried over to the nightcap, as they again shut out the Pioneers, 10-0, with both contests ending in a five-inning run-rule.
The twinbill triumph stretched Cottey’s school record-win steak to 17 games, and improved their record to 17-2 overall.
Comets 12, Pioneers 0
Wallace needed just 57 pitches to secure the first perfect game in Comets’ softball history.
She nearly no-hit the Pioneers Feb. 16 in Harrison, Arkansas, but had her no-hit bid broken up in the fifth.
History nearly repeated itself Wednesday as a fifth inning flare just over the pitching circle fell to the infield dirt and spun hard. Sophomore second baseman Izzy Milligan came to the rescue, making a play with a high degree of difficulty for the inning’s first out.
“Izzy stayed back on the ball, and made the right decision by not attempting to catch it in the air,” marveled Mark Skapin, Cottey’s second-year head coach. “Izzy read the direction the ball would spin, and was able to back-load, allowing her to make an awesome bang-bang play.”
The inning’s second out was also no walk in the park. On a slow-roller, shortstop Katie Fernandez charged hard and unloaded to first base to get the runner by a step.
History was then made as Milligan fielded a tough-hop grounder and fired to first, securing Wallace’s perfect game.
Before heading back to the circle for the top of the fifth, Wallace said she was unaware of the perfect-game stakes.
“Honestly, I had no clue I (was in the midst) of a perfect game,” Wallace told the Daily Mail. “I was just playing the game that I love. And knowing that the girls behind me always have my back, I don’t even have to worry about anyone getting on base. It’s really nice.”
As is common tradition in baseball and softball during no-hit bids, teammates generally do not approach, or speak to, the pitcher in the dugout between innings.
“After the game, I had teammates telling me that they wanted to (inform) me about the perfect game, but decided not to because they didn’t want to jinx me.”
Added Wallace with a wry smile: “So they told me after the game.”
The frosh ace, out of White Hall H.S. in southern Arkansas, had major success at the prep level before becoming the crown jewel of Skapin’s second recruiting class.
Wallace said she had confidence issues in high school, but that Skapin has elevated her game to another level.
“Since coming here, my confidence has grown,” said Wallace. “And it’s also nice to know that I’ve made history at Cottey with the perfect game.”
Wallace’s arsenal includes a curveball, screwball, riseball, and change-up. Against North Arkansas Wallace’s curveball and change-up were especially potent.
“My curveball is my go-to pitch,” noted Wallace. “But I’ve been throwing a lot of screwballs lately.”
At the dish freshman third baseman Alexis-Riley Cello’s third-inning two-run blast handed the Comets a 4-0 advantage. Cottey then broke the game open with an eight-run fourth.
Milligan finished 3-for-3 with three RBI, and Riley-Cello went 2-for-3 with three RBI and her team-leading eighth round-tripper of the season. Kansas City native Lindsey Boord slugged a pair of doubles, while Wallace aided her own cause, going 2-for-3 with a run and RBI.
Wallace (8-1) struck out five en route to the perfect game victory. She said that after the games the team celebrated by retreating to the dorm, where they gathered for a viewing of the movie “Trolls.”
Comets 10, Pioneers 0
In the nightcap Cottey freshman pitcher Emily Killion continued to frustrate North Arkansas. Killion, of Wheaton, Missouri, fanned five while scattering four hits, improving her record to 8-1 with the complete-game shutout, while lowering her earned run average to 3.50.
For Cottey, sophomore infielder Lilly Brockus led the way at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles, two runs-scored, and four RBI. Cottey leadoff hitter Rayne Wright clubbed a home run, while Ashlyn Robertson chipped in three hits and drove in a pair of runs.
“The defense once again played error-free ball, allowing only one runner to reach second base,” Skapin noted of his club’s ever-improving defensive play.
UP NEXT
The Comets return to the diamond today for an NJCAA Region 16 twinbill with the visiting St. Louis Community College Lady Archers.
The first pitch is slated for noon from Vanek Family Memorial Field.
See a future edition of the Daily Mail for all the latest on Cottey Comet softball