Through Columbia’s first 13 games this year, the Wildcats have been stuck in a vicious up-and-down cycle that consists of them playing really one game then laying an egg the next.
That continued last week as the Wildcats (5-8, 1-2) put up 12 runs to beat Tylertown in their district opener then mustered just two runs against the Chiefs the next night in a loss.
“Tylertown is much improved, and I told my guys that all week. They have four arms that can pitch and keep them in games. They’re very athletic and have a few good hitters up there at the top. Just about everybody in that lineup can run,” head coach Kyle Lindsey said. “If they roll the ball, they can put pressure on you, and they did that both nights.”
To open Region 8-3A play, seven hits and seven walks drawn led Columbia to a 12-7 home victory over Tylertown March 18. Austin Arnold plated a run with a double, Tucker Lucas scored two on a single and Hayden Adkins scored three runs, hit two singles and drew a pair of walks.
Lucas drew the start and left with a no decision, allowing six runs (three earned) on five hits and four walks while striking out five in 3 2/3 innings. Freshman Nik Carney was mightily impressive to pick up the win in relief, fanning nine batters — accounting for all nine outs he recorded — and allowing just one run on four hits across three innings.
Game 2 at Tylertown Friday didn’t go quite as well for the Wildcats as they fell 4-2 to the Chiefs. Columbia started the game with two runs in the top of the first, but Tylertown answered with four runs in the bottom half. Neither team scored the rest of the game.
Carter Smith reached to lead off the game and scored on an Arnold single, then Adkins scored on a passed ball. Eli Lowery took the loss as he recorded just one out and surrendered four runs (two earned) on one hit and three walks. However, Dylan Broom turned in a gem in relief, striking out four and allowing just three hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings.
“We just couldn’t get the big hit offensively. We had bases loaded in the third then again in the fifth or the sixth. One time we were in the middle of the order, and the other time we were at the top with nobody out. We just didn’t push anything across,” Lindsey said. “It’s a learning experience. I think our focus was somewhere else after Thursday night, looking down the road a little bit rather than focusing on Tylertown. That’s something you can’t do in district play.”
In their last three games, Columbia has 15 hits and just two for extra bases — a pair of doubles. Lindsey said the Wildcats have the power to come through with extra-base knocks and they worked hard in the weight room during the offseason, but it comes down to their approach and identifying pitches to drive.
“I don’t think we’re quite as good of a hitting team as we’d like to be. If you take Eli Lowery (six doubles and one home run this season) out of our lineup, we don’t have very many extra-base hits at all,” he said. “I don’t really know the answer, but we have to start driving the ball a little bit more. I think we’re taking too many fastballs and chasing too many breaking balls. I don’t think we’re aggressive enough early in the count.”
Columbia will play at West Marion Friday night and will be on the road Saturday against Lamar Christian. Next week the Wildcats will play Seminary in an away-and-home, two-game series.
