By Tiffany L. Rehbein
If the ancient tale had ended with Goliath winning the battle, overcoming the stones, then maybe the Havre Comets could have felt better about defeating the Babe Ruth All-Stars.
The way it was Monday afternoon at Legion Field, the Davids in Havre nearly followed that old story. The young versus the old. The small versus the big. In this story, however, Goliath barely won.
The Comets downed the All-Stars in a 5-3 victory, but only after having to regain the lead once before nine innings finally swallowed the game with the Comets on top.
There were too many strike outs, said Ryan Divish, head Comets coach. We needed to be more aggressive at the plate.
The Comets scattered 10 hits in the victory. Kyle Sheppard went 2-for-3 with two triples and one RBI in the win.
The third inning proved to be the biggest stone for the Comets when they scored two runs on three hits. Both Sheppard and Scott Rice nailed triples in the inning. Sheppard and T.J. Luke each tallied an RBI.
The All-Stars retaliated in the fifth inning when they scored three runs on four hits. They would not score again but found strength when Dan Wirtzberger doubled to the center field wall sending his two base runners home. He would go on to score on a pitching error after he stole third base. The All-Stars led 3-2 for the first and only time.
The All-Stars team played very well today, Divish said. They made the plays. I think they [Comets] thought these kids would roll over and die because were older. They didnt.
Sheppards second triple on the day evened the game in the bottom of the fifth inning and a single by David Knight stretched the lead to one run in the bottom of the sixth. The Comets cast their last stone in the eighth inning when Jordan Anderson scored on a pitching error.
The kids really played well, said Travis Abdallah, assistant All-Stars coach. Playing older kids, it can be intimidating at times. They played well.
The All-Stars scattered nine hits in the loss and, using three different pitchers, struck out five batters.
The Comets meet Cut Bank at Legion Field Wednesday.
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On Saturday, the Havre Comets dropped a twinbill to second-ranked Lethbridge, falling first 4-2 then 9-8 at Legion Field.
In the first game, the Comets allowed three unearned runs by committing defensive errors that sent Lethbridge men home.
We actually played well, said Ryan Divish, head Comet coach. To play that close to a team of that caliber is great.
Kyle Sheppard and Sean Williams went 3-for-3 and C.J. Reichelt had a double in the effort.
In the second game, Cory Meyers, Reichelt, Sheppard and Jay Rucinsky all tallied one RBI in the loss. Garrett Hanson had a double in the effort.
