The Cougars have been busy preparing for District 4 competition, which begins Tuesday, and are looking like a team capable of making a postseason run.
Its recent six games in six days stretch began Feb. 13 for Columbia Academy (10-5) against Pontchartrain Christian at Parklane Academy. It took the Cougars’ bats a little time to get rolling, but they exploded for eight runs in the sixth inning to win 11-1.
Junior standout Slade Wilks customarily led the charge with a double, two singles and 3 RBI, while Robert Johnson and Peyton Rowell both had a pair of singles and drove in a run. Kyle Herring controlled the pace of the game on the mound in five innings, allowing just one unearned run on five hits while striking out five.
In the Battle at the Beach the next day, Columbia Academy got its most impressive win to date over Class 2A East Union, who has a victory over a 6A program on its resume and has won two state championships in the last three years. The Cougars pounced early at St. Martin High School, scoring three runs in the first inning, four in the second and three more in the third to cruise to a 10-2 win in five innings.
Wilks and Ras Pace each ripped solo shots, and Tate Duncan had a perfect 3-for-3 day with 3 RBI. Colby Thompson connected for a pair of singles and drove in two, while Riles Stuart also had 2 RBI. Duncan went the distance on the mound, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four.
Taking on a pair of 6A schools in a doubleheader Friday at Ocean Springs High School, the Cougars didn’t have nearly the same type of success. In the matinee game, CA was held to just four hits and committed five errors in a 15-5 loss to Southaven. Stuart had the lone RBI for the Cougars at the dish but got roughed up on the mound to take the loss. He lasted 2 2/3 innings, allowing nine runs (six earned) on five hits and five walks but did strike out six.
Things didn’t get much better in the nightcap as the Cougars were held to just two hits in a four-inning 13-3 loss to Warren Central, who is one of the top programs in the state and has nine college commits. Wilks lifted a solo shot, his eighth of the season, but the Cougars struck out seven times and left eight men on base. Pace pitched all four innings for CA, allowing nine earned runs on 13 hits and four walks.
The Cougars got back to winning baseball Saturday at home and made history in the process. Nine days after Herring no-hit Ben’s Ford, CA pulled off another no-hitter in a 15-3, four-inning win over Centreville Academy.
Drew Havard started and lasted three innings, giving up three unearned runs on six walks and two errors while striking out six. Herring finished off the no-no with a perfect inning in relief. With the Cougars low on arms after playing four times in three days, Havard got the call after not pitching in nearly two years. Head coach Eric Johnson said Havard’s performance is a perfect example of why he loves the game.
“For that to be his first no-hitter, him being a senior and that being his first time on the mound in a year and a half, that’s one of those special moments as a coach that you appreciate,” he said.
Colby Thompson was perfect at the plate with three singles and 2 RBI, and six other Cougars had a hit. Havard, Stuart, Herring, Pace and Duncan each had 2 RBI.
Herring delivered another gem on the bump Monday night in a 5-0 win over Lamar Christian. The junior righty tossed six scoreless innings and struck out nine while allowing just three hits.
“Kyle Herring has came in and gave us that other arm that we were wondering if we were going to find. He’s not overpowering, but he fills the strike zone up,” Johnson said. “Most importantly he gives the defense a chance to play behind him. If we throw strikes, we’re going to be in the game because I feel like defensively we catch it pretty (well).”
Havard and Peyton Rowell each had a pair of hits and drove in a run, and Pace drove in two.
“We didn’t hit the ball real well, but we did something that I was more pleased with than I would have been offensively; we pitched and played defense (Monday),” Johnson said. “Most importantly Slade didn’t have a great night and some other guys picked up the slack. I was telling them that when who we feel like is the best player in the state (Wilks) is not producing, we need the other guys to step up and they did.”
Johnson added he loved the approach of the hitters because they did exactly what they’ve been taught to do against Lamar. When the Cougars face a pitcher who doesn’t throw hard, the coaching staff wants them to stay back on the ball and go the other way, which Johnson said they did.
The Cougars played host to Presbyterian Christian Tuesday, but results were unavailable at press time. They will play PCS again Thursday on the road before hosting Brookhaven Academy Saturday afternoon at 2.
While Johnson has seen some improvement in the “little things,” he said there is still room for improvement before District 4 begins.
“We need to get better leads, run the bases better, recognize situations better and have better two-strike approaches. All those little things is what it’s going to take because our district is pretty loaded. Bowling Green and Wayne (Academy) are going to be strong this year,” he said.
Pictured Above: Cougars pitcher Kyle Herring throws a pitch against Lamar Christian Monday. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
