Despite being on spring break, the Columbia Academy Cougars got to play a doubleheader last week before the coronavirus suspended their season.
However, MSAIS has a different stance on the coronavirus than MHSAA and is leaving it up to the schools on whether or not teams can practice and is going week to week on deciding if games will be played. CA has decided to let the Cougars practice under certain conditions, which includes not allowing players to be grouped together in the fieldhouse at the same time or in big groups on the field.
Head coach Keith Stanley said he believes MSAIS will be OK and won’t end up canceling the season.
“It makes me a little nervous, but I think when you talk high school ball it’s a little different than the college level. I think we’ll eventually be able to play,” he said. “It’s just hard to tell when that will be, and that’s what makes it tough on players.”
The Cougars played their doubleheader March 11 against Brookhaven Academy and Parklane Academy at Parklane. They beat Brookhaven 5-4 as Colby Thompson lifted a two-run homer and Slade Wilks had a solo shot in the early-morning game.
“That’s what makes me cringe about this break: we’re starting to hit the ball right now at the right time, and our bats are heating up a bit,” Stanley said. “We hit four homers that day so we’re starting to swing it better and we’re starting to pitch it better. We didn’t have many walks, but we still haven’t been able to catch it good. But I think that goes back to getting on the field and practicing.”
Kyle Herring got the win and allowed just one unearned run on two hits and four walks while striking out five.
CA lost to Parklane in the second game 9-4, but Stanley said the final score didn’t indicate how well the Cougars played as Ras Pace and Tate Duncan both homered.
“They only got three balls out the infield. We just struggled catching the ball that day,” he said.
Stanley said MAIS is going from Friday to Friday on its decision, and if play does resume the Cougars will play at Bowling Green Tuesday.
