Fatima opened the softball season with a first-place finish at last weekend’s People’s Bank Back-to-School Classic at Sullivan. The Lady Comets won all but one game by at least six runs, with the largest margin of victory, an 11-3 win over Capital City on Saturday in the tournament finale.

“This was a great overall win,” said Coach Ashlee Schnieders. “We had a very impressive offensive weekend, with everyone contributing. I’m very proud of this group of girls.”

Fatima began with a 6-0 win over Mexico on Friday, scoring four in the first and two in the second of a five-inning outing. Kinzey Woody posted two doubles, and Elise Dickneite, Mia Kliethermes, and Kristen Robertson each added a single.

From the circle, Kliethermes started the game and struck out four of the six batters she faced in two innings. Ava Heckemeyer closed the game with four strikeouts and a walk, as neither allowed a run.

In the closest game of the tournament, Fatima defeated Washington 9-8 in just four innings due to time limits.

Washington scored six runs in the top of the first to make it challenging for the Lady Comets, who answered with three in the bottom of the frame.

When Fatima went to bat, Woody got it started with a one-out single. She was cut down at second in a fielder’s choice that allowed Heckemeyer to reach first.

Robertson (single), Madelyn Backes (double), and Sydney Scheppers (single) delivered consecutive hits to plate three.

In the top of the second, Woody had another chance with one out and blasted her 32nd career home run to center field to make it a 6-4 game.

Heckemeyer drew a walk, and Sadi Lehmen entered as a courtesy runner, moving to second on a Robertson single.

Backes walked to load the bases, and a Scheppers walk plated Fatima’s fifth run. Eva Wildhaber kept it going with a single up the middle. An error allowed Backes and Robertson to score, giving the Lady Comets a 7-6 lead.

After Washington knotted the game at 7-7 in the top of the third, Fatima closed the game with two in the bottom.

Woody’s one-out walk was followed by an error that allowed Kliethermes to reach and pushed Woody to third. Backes entered the box and delivered a line-drive single to center field that plated the go-ahead runs, 9-7.

Washington added a HR to lead off the fourth, but Fatima shut down the Lady Blue Jays to end the game.

Wildhaber went 3-3 with an RBI to lead the Lady Comets, as Backes (double, 4 RBI), Robertson, and Woody (RBI) each added two hits, and Lilly Cunningham and Scheppers (2 RBI) finished with one apiece.

Kliethermes started the game and went one inning, allowing four earned runs on one hit, with three walks and two strikeouts. In two innings, Heckemeyer allowed three earned runs on four hits, with four walks and two strikeouts.

In Friday’s final game, Fatima defeated Northwest 11-4, collecting nine hits along the way.

Dickneite posted three singles to lead the team, as Marlee Oliver, Backes (RBI), Kliethermes (2 RBI), Robertson (2 RBI), Woody (2 RBI), and Scheppers each had one. Megan Gabelsberger and Maci Wilbers added an RBI each.

In a 3.1-inning start, Kliethermes struck out three and walked four while allowing four earned runs on five hits. Wildhaber closed out the final two-thirds of an inning with no hits or walks.

On Saturday, Fatima opened with a 13-4 win over Sullivan.

Woody (2-3, 6 RBI) led the offense with a pair of home runs and a double. Kliethermes had a 2-3 showing at the plate, with a double and two RBI.

Robertson (double, RBI), Wildhaber (double, RBI), Dickneite, and Cunningham added a hit apiece.

Kliethermes fanned two and walked one while allowing no runs on two hits in two innings. Heckemeyer threw one inning, walking two and giving up two earned runs on three hits. Wildhaber also pitched an inning, allowing two earned on one hit with three walks and a strikeout.

In the final game, Fatima shut down Capital City 11-3 as Scheppers (2-3, 3 RBI) and Kliethermes (1-2, 3 RBI) each drilled a home run.

Dickneite (2-3, double) and Cunningham (2-3, RBI) paced the team, and Robertson added a double in two plate appearances with two RBI. Lehmen also drove in a run.

Kliethermes allowed one hit, struck out one, and walked two in two innings. Lucy Warren went two innings as well, allowing one earned run on one hit with three walks. Wildhaber’s one inning of work ended with a walk and a strikeout.