After throttling Dixon (3) 16-0 in the semifinals on Wednesday, the Comets (2) defeated top seed Belle 5-0 in the Class 3, District 8 championship game on Thursday.

It was a repeat of last year’s district run for the Comets, who won the state title.

Blake Kliethermes, who tossed 10 pitches against Dixon, returned for a complete-game no-hit shutout in which he struck out 11 and walked three.

“Blake pitching the way he was obviously helped us, and it allowed us to put up zeros on offense, but our pitching and our defense showed up today,” said Coach Tyler VanGerpen. “The 2-0 lead allowed the players to be more relaxed, and then we went up 3-0, and then that extra two in the seventh gave us a little bit of a breather, but you still can’t fully relax. Until that final out, there is no comfort level against Belle. They earned that top seed, and we battled through every at-bat and made the most of our opportunities.”

Kliethermes helped himself at the plate with a 2-3 performance, including a solo HR in the sixth to give Fatima a 3-0 lead.

The Comets opened with two runs in the first after a walk to Bryce Wieberg (1-3, RBI) and a double by Kliethermes. With runners in scoring position, Tristan Peters entered as a courtesy runner for Kliethermes and scored on a sac fly by Colton Scheulen. Tommy Heisler (2-4, RBI) followed with a double to score Peters, and the Comets led 2-0.

After Kliethermes added to the tally with his HR, the Comets added two in the seventh with two outs.

Evan Koenigsfeld (1-1) led off with a walk, and Tony Heckman hit into a fielder’s choice that cut down CR Blake Schwartze (in for Koenigsfeld).  Jackson Crede also walked, and then Wieberg stepped into the box and doubled to left field. Peters entered for Heckman and scored on Wieberg’s double. Kliethermes walked and loaded the bases for Scheulen, who reached on an error that allowed Crede to score.

Tanner Huhn also had a hit for the Comets.

In Wednesday’s semifinal against Dixon, Fatima won 16-0 in three innings. All runs were scored in the first inning with two outs.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen that or been a part of that,” said VanGerpen. “We were dialed in, and our bats woke up. It was a great offensive effort.”

Highlighted among the plays were two home runs.

Leading 7-0, Wieberg drilled the ball over the left field fence with one aboard to make it 9-0. Kliethermes followed with a solo shot to center field, and it was 10-0.

Scheulen kept it going with a double, and the Comets added six more runs.

Kliethermes pitched the first inning, allowing no hits or runs, and Heisler closed it out with two strikeouts and one hit over two innings.

Heckman (4 RBI), Heisler (2 RBI), Kliethermes (RBI), and Huhn (RBI) each had two hits, as Crede (RBI), Wieberg (2 RBI), Bexten (RBI), and Scheulen each added one hit.

With the championship, the Comets advanced to the sectional round on Tuesday against Centralia. Details of that game will be presented next week.