After losing their first six games of the season, the Columbia Academy Cougars have won four straight, outscoring their opponents 54-18 in the process.
Head coach Keith Stanley said the big difference has been the Cougars (4-6, 2-0) barreling the ball up more often. Coming into this season, 17 of CA’s 20-man roster had never played a varsity inning before, so the majority of the Cougars’ lineup is just starting to get its feet wet.
“After seeing those big arms early in the year against some bigger schools, I think we’re finally starting to play catch up. We’re starting to find some barrels and taking advantage of some hitter’s counts,” he said. “We’re starting to hit with runners in scoring position, and we’re starting to hit fastballs, which is what we preach.”
Friday, in the first half of a home doubleheader, the Cougars were led by Robert Johnson’s 3 RBI and Holdyn Sandifer driving in a pair of runs with a double and a single to beat Amite School Center 8-1. Although he walked five batters, Holton Hartzog was dominant in six innings to pick up the win, striking out five while scattering four hits.
Columbia Academy was even better in the nightcap, needing just four-and-a-half innings to top Amite 12-1. Jeffrey Pennington drove in a pair, and Trevor Courtney, Hays Carley, Johnson and Sandifer each plated a run. The Cougars used two middle schoolers on the mound, with Logan Buckley getting the win, striking out eight and allowing just two hits in four innings. Roman Lawrence tossed a hitless inning in relief.
With eight runs in the first inning, five in both the second and third innings and three more in fourth, the Cougars needed just four innings Saturday to top Christian Home Educators Fellowship 21-9 while pounding out 14 hits. Carley fell just a home run away from a cycle, driving in four runs and scoring four times. Buckley launched a solo home run, and Will Arinder and Pennington drove in a pair each.
The Cougars kept the momentum rolling Monday against McComb, riding six first-inning runs to a 13-7 victory at home. Carley raised his batting average to .500 for the season with four more hits, including a triple, and driving in two runs. Buckley drove in three runs with a double, and Lawrence (two doubles), Johnson and Jacob Reid had two hits and an RBI each. Courtney got the win, striking out seven and allowing three earned runs in five innings.
The Cougars returned just one pitcher — Courtney — with varsity experience this year, and Stanley said the young arms are now starting to find their groove and are learning how to get batters out at the varsity level. They have walked 53 batters in 56 innings so far, but Stanley said he believes that will improve as the season goes on.
One extremely bright spot for the Cougars has been seventh grader Logan Buckley, who is the cousin of former CA stars Slade Wilks (Southern Miss outfielder) and Luke McKenzie (Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect). Starting varsity as a middle schooler is one thing, but Buckley has been lights out on the mound and is already pitching like CA’s ace. The southpaw has struck out 21 batters against just four walks in 11 2/3 innings and has a team-leading 1.80 ERA. He is also second on the squad with a .300 batting average and has two doubles, a home run and 7 RBI in 20 at-bats. On top of that, Buckley has walked a team-beat seven times and boasts an impressive .448 on-base percentage.
“It’s been impressive. He carries a lot of weight with who his older cousins were. I don’t want to say he has big shoes to fill because it’s not his job to fill them, but he thinks that and puts a lot of pressure on himself,” Stanley said. “I’ve just been pleased with what he does and what he’s been doing on the mound and at the plate.”
The second-year coach added it’s also been impressive how the older players have embraced Buckley and the other younger players.
“They’ve taken all our young guys in, taking them under their wing and showing them the ropes,” he said.
The Cougars have a tough stretch coming up with Jackson Academy at home Thursday, Pontchartrain Christian Friday, Parklane Academy Monday and Thursday (March 18) next week then West Marion March 20.
Stanley said he wants his players to understand that every opponent puts their pants on the same way they do, and at the end of the day all they can do is control how they compete. He added if the Cougars compete the way they’re capable of for seven innings every game out, when they look up at the scoreboard at the end of the game they should be happy with the outcome.
