By GEORGE MAHL – Sports Editor

The St. Charles Catholic Comets fought off a late inning rally by Brusly to advance to the regional round of the playoffs with a 6-2 victory.

Comets starting pitcher Jesse Martin pitched six innings and picked up the victory.

Brusly starter Hunter Mouch took the loss for the Panthers.

In the bottom of the fifth, with the Comets leading 4-2, Matt Heltz slammed a two-run homer over the right field fence, giving SCC a comfortable 6-2 lead.

The Panthers came back in the top of the sixth to cut the Comets lead to 6-3 on a homerun by first baseman Jordan Aillet.

In the top of the seventh, SCC appeared to be in some trouble. After relief pitcher Jeremy Catoire got Matt Canova to fly out to right, Cody Lemoine and Cody Jarreau got back-to-back singles to put runners in scoring position.

With two outs, Phil Simoneaux singled home Lemoine, making the score 6-4.

Catoire, however, settled down by striking out Jordan Aillet to end the game.

The Comets had trouble with Brusly pitching in the first couple of innings.

Mouch only allowed one baserunner and struck out three batters through two innings.

In the bottom of the third, the Comets got things rolling. With the bases loaded, David Rollo scored the game’s first run when a passed ball got by Simoneaux. The second passed ball scored Casey Robottom, making the score 2-0.

A basehit from Matt Heltz knocked in Matt Sutton and Martin to give the Comets an early 4-0 lead.

Martin got all three Brusly hitters to fly out in the top of the fourth.

The Panthers got their two runs in the top of the fifth. Mouch started the fifth with a single and scored on a double by Matt Canova. Lemoine then grounded out to shortstop, which scored Canova.

The Comets appeared close to scoring again in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Rollo walked and stole second. Robottom was then hit by a pitch, placing runners in first and second with two outs. Mouch was able to get out of the jam we he got Sutton to fly out to end the inning.

Martin pitched six innings and gave up eight hits and two runs in the victory.

Top hitters for the Comets were Heltz (2-3, HR) and Rollo (2-3). Top hitters for Brusly were Canova (2-3, 1 run scored) and Lemoine (2-3).

The Comets were scheduled to play against rival Lutcher Tuesday afternoon.