Fatima did a lot right at Capital City HS in the final game of the Missouri River Festival — early pressure, aggressive base-running, and a late lead — but St. Charles West answered in the final inning to hand the Comets a 4-3 loss on a walk-off single.

Fatima went 2-3 in five games last week, and four were decided in the seventh inning.

“Overall, we played good baseball,” said Coach Tyler VanGerpen. “Pitching was up and down early in the week, but we kept games close. By the end of the week, they were really good. Offensively, we scored a lot early in the week but struggled to stay consistent later. We had a chance to win every game, and that’s a good sign.”

The Comets set the tone in the first inning, manufacturing a run through execution and pressure on the bases. Blake Kliethermes doubled to start the rally, and Colten Scheulen followed with a run-scoring single to give the Comets a 1-0 lead.

St. Charles West evened the game in the fourth, but Fatima responded in the sixth with its most productive inning of the night.

Henry Robertson reached and moved into scoring position, and Bexten delivered in the middle of the inning with a fielder’s choice that brought home two runs as both Tony Heckman and Bryce Wieberg crossed the plate, pushing Fatima back in front 3-1.

Fatima continued to apply pressure throughout the game, working six walks and aggressively attacking the bases. Kliethermes drew two walks, while Scheulen and others helped fuel a running game that produced 10 stolen bases, consistently forcing defensive stress.

On the mound, Wieberg gave Fatima a chance deep into the game, working 6.1 innings while allowing three earned runs on three hits, striking out three and walking five. Peters allowed two hits in the final two-thirds of an inning.

Fatima finished with four hits in the contest, with Kliethermes, Heckman, Wieberg, and Scheulen each recording a hit, while Bexten led the team with two RBIs in the loss.

FATIMA BUILDS LATE LEAD BEHIND KLIETHERMES,

BUT SEVENTH-INNING SWING PROVES DECISIVE

Kliethermes delivered a strong outing on the mound, and Fatima carried a late lead into the seventh, but Gateway Legacy Christian Academy rallied for five runs in the final inning to hand the Comets a 5-1 loss in the early game on Friday.

Fatima controlled the game deep into the contest behind Kliethermes, who worked 6.1 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out eight and walking one.

The Comets broke through in the sixth inning, using patient at-bats to create traffic before capitalizing. Evan Koenigsfeld worked a walk, and Wieberg followed with a single that put Fatima on the board as the go-ahead run scored during the sequence, giving the Comets a 1-0 advantage.

Fatima continued to apply pressure in the inning, loading the bases with additional baserunners as Scheulen drew a walk, but Gateway escaped further damage and kept the game within reach.

Gateway flipped the game in the top of the seventh, stringing together four hits and taking advantage of the momentum shift to plate five runs. A key triple in the inning drove in three and turned a one-run deficit into a four-run lead.

Fatima finished with four hits, with Wieberg, Tanner Huhn, Tyler Bexten, and Jackson Crede each recording a hit in the contest.

Despite the result, Fatima remained competitive throughout, carrying a lead into the final inning and putting itself in position to win late.

FATIMA HANDLES CENTRAL, 6-1

Fatima set the tone immediately on Thursday, using a four-run first inning and steady pitching to secure a 6-1 win over Central (Cape Girardeau) at JCHS.

The Comets created traffic right away in the opening frame. Crede singled, Kliethermes was hit by a pitch, and both advanced on a passed ball. Scheulen walked to load the bases, and Koenigsfeld was hit by a pitch to drive in the first run; Heisler was hit by a pitch to bring home a second. Robertson capped the inning with a two-run single to left, giving Fatima a 4-0 lead.

Fatima added to its advantage in the second. Crede opened the frame with a walk and moved into scoring position before Koenigsfeld delivered an RBI single to extend the lead to 5-0.

After Central pushed across its only run, Kliethermes answered in the fourth with a leadoff solo home run to left, stretching the margin to 6-1.

Fatima finished with seven hits as Crede and Koenigsfeld each collected two, while Kliethermes, Robertson, and Wieberg added one apiece. Koenigsfeld and Robertson each drove in two runs, while Kliethermes added an RBI on the home run.

The Comets also showed discipline at the plate, drawing nine walks. Scheulen, Crede, and Robertson each worked two free passes.

On the mound, Tommy Heisler earned the win, allowing one run on six hits over six innings while striking out five and walking two. Peters closed the game with a scoreless inning of relief, striking out one.

FATIMA FALLS ON WALK-OFF TO BELLE

Fatima matched Belle inning for inning, answering every surge and building a late lead, but a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh handed the Comets a 6-5 loss.

Fatima showed early resilience after Belle took advantage of an error to score in the first, responding in the second with aggressive execution to take the lead.

Kliethermes sparked the inning with a double, and Bexten followed by reaching on an error that allowed Kliethermes to score and move into scoring position. With two outs, Heckman delivered a sacrifice fly to bring Bexten home, giving Fatima a 2-1 advantage.

Belle answered with a three-run home run in the third to move back in front, but Fatima continued to respond.

In the fourth, Stuckenschneider hit a two-out single, and on Heckman’s single to right, moved into scoring position on an error that also allowed Heckman to advance to second. Crede then drove a double down the left-field line to drive in Stuckenschneider and Heckman to tie the game at 4-4.

Fatima took its final lead in the fifth when Koenigsfeld delivered a solo home run to left, putting the Comets back in front 5-4.

Belle tied the game in the sixth on a fielder’s choice, setting up the decisive final inning.

Fatima outhit Belle 10-8, with Crede, Kliethermes, and Bexten each collecting two hits. Crede led the Comets with two RBIs.

On the mound, Wieberg started and worked three innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits while striking out three. Heckman provided relief over 3.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits with two strikeouts and no walks.

Belle broke through in the bottom of the seventh, stringing together hits before a two-out single brought home the winning run.

FATIMA RALLIES PAST ST. ELIZABETH, 8-7

Fatima showed exactly the kind of resilience coaches look for last Monday, erasing a five-run deficit and executing late to defeat St. Elizabeth 8-7.

The turning point came in the sixth.

Huhn walked, and Wieberg was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Heisler followed with an RBI single, and Kliethermes added another to pull Fatima within one. After a sacrifice bunt moved runners into scoring position, Crede tied the game at 7-7 with a single to left.

Fatima completed the comeback in the seventh. Wieberg and Heisler each singled before Kliethermes delivered an RBI single to plate Wieberg for the eventual winning run.

The Comets found themselves in an early hole after St. Elizabeth used traffic on the bases to score five runs in the first inning and take a 5-1 lead. Fatima answered immediately and continued to chip away rather than letting the game get out of reach.

Fatima got on the board in the top of the first when Crede reached on an error, allowing Wieberg to score after opening the inning with a double.

Trailing 5-1, Fatima responded in the third. Crede singled, and Bexten walked to set the table for Heisler, who delivered a two-run single to cut the deficit to 5-3.

St. Elizabeth extended its lead to 7-3 in the fourth, but Fatima again answered. Crede reached on an error in the fifth and later scored on another RBI single from Heisler to make it 7-4.

Fatima finished with 10 hits, with Kliethermes, Wieberg, Heisler, and Crede each collecting two. Heisler drove in three runs from the No. 7 spot, while the Comets also showed patience at the plate with seven walks.

On the mound, Kliethermes started and allowed five runs (two earned) over two innings with five strikeouts. Tristan Peters handled the middle innings, and Heisler closed the final three innings, allowing two hits and no runs while striking out six to earn the win.

Fatima also played a clean defensive game, finishing without an error.

FATIMA JV FALLS DESPITE EARLY EXECUTION

Fatima’s JV squad showed early execution, but a fourth-inning surge proved too much in a 12-2 loss.

The Comets struck first in the second inning when Eli Libbert delivered an RBI single to bring home the game’s opening run.

Fatima continued to apply pressure on the bases, using its speed to create opportunities throughout the game. The Comets totaled seven stolen bases, with Brayden Schwartze, Jax Wieberg, and Nico Bax each swiping multiple bags.

After St. Elizabeth tied the game in the bottom of the second, Fatima answered again in the fourth. Wieberg worked into scoring position and came home on a sacrifice fly by Grant Kliethermes to give the Comets a 2-1 lead.

Fatima also saw contributions throughout the lineup, with Libbert, Will Borgmeyer, and Schwartze each collecting a hit, while Libbert and Kliethermes drove in runs.

St. Elizabeth capitalized in the bottom of the fourth, scoring 11 runs to take control.

On the mound, Bax started and worked three innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits while striking out five and walking three.