Columbia Academy’s backs are firmly pressed against the wall. Mired in a 10-game losing streak that includes seven district losses, the Cougars may need to have some help to get into the playoffs.
Columbia Academy (6-19, 2-7) is currently fourth in the District 4 standings out of five, and the top four teams secure playoff berths. Just behind the Cougars is Amite School Center (5-11, 1-8), who has been playing much better in recent weeks while CA has been sliding down the standings.
Thankfully for the Cougars’ sake, they hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over ASC, winning two of three in the season series. However, ASC is taking on Lamar Christian this week in a three-game series that is very winnable for the Rebels. Meanwhile, this week the Cougars have a three-game set scheduled with Wayne Academy (16-7, 9-0), who has swept the District 4 competition. If the Rebels win two of three over Lamar Christian and the Cougars get swept by Wayne Academy, Amite School Center will get the final playoff spot and Columbia Academy’s season will be over.
If both CA and ASC get swept, the Cougars will remain fourth in standings at 2-10 and get the final playoffs spot. Also if CA can manage to steal one game from Wayne and end its losing skid, it would take ASC sweeping Lamar Christian to keep the Cougars out.
The Cougars are in this position after Lamar Christian shut them out April 8 at CA 4-0. After scoring a season-high 19 runs April 5 against ASC — a 22-19 loss, the Cougars were held to just one hit while striking out 14 times.
Because of a previous rainout, it was CA’s bad luck that it had to play its three-game series against Lamar Christian across two weeks, allowing the Lions to pitch Jones commit Cade Mattison a second time in the series. Mattison utilized his upper 80s fastball and a hammer of a breaking ball to completely stymie CA’s offense, which managed just one single by Robert Johnson.
Logan Buckley drew the start for CA and was quite effective after not having his command in a two-run first inning. The seventh grader allowed just three earned runs on three hits and three walks while striking out six. Trevor Courtney tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief, fanning two.
Things didn’t get much better for CA on Saturday as it was limited to just three hits in a 14-1 loss at Sumrall, who is ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 4A. The Bobcats struck for eight runs in the first inning and six more in the third.
Columbia Academy played at Wayne Academy Tuesday (results unavailable at press time) and will close out the series and regular season Friday with a home doubleheader.
Head coach Keith Stanley could not be reached for comment.
