After dropping their first two games of the season, the Cougars have won six of their last seven and are starting to hit their stride.
Columbia Academy (6-3) first-year head coach Eric Johnson said that it has taken some time for the Cougars to get used how he runs the program compared to what they’ve experienced in the past, but they are starting to come around and buying into the coaching.
“The first three games we faced some really, really good pitching, and we’ve had to make some adjustments earlier than we wanted to. With all of the rainouts, we lost five games and tried to schedule some to get back on schedule. I think each day we’re getting better,” he said. “The only game I feel like we got outplayed was against West Marion (13-3 loss Feb. 26). The kid (Shelby Terrell) we faced from West Marion is probably one of the best in the state. But we easily could be 8-1.”
The run started March 1 at home with a 7-2 win over Mize, in which junior superstar Slade Wilks broke the game open with a home run, a double and 3 RBI and struck out 10 while allowing just two runs in six innings.
Wilks powered CA again the next day in the matinee portion of a doubleheader at Amite School Center. He drove in three runs with a home run, a single and a pair of walks in a 12-5 win over Amite, while Robert Johnson drove in three runs and Colby Thompson two. Riles Stuart gave up one earned run in three innings, and Tate Duncan earned the win with four strong innings in relief.
In the second game CA needed just five innings to dispatch Pontchartrain Christian 11-1 as Drew Havard and Thompson both had 2 RBI, and Kyle Herring struck out four in two scoreless innings.
Against Simpson Academy Feb. 5, Wilks was rolling on the mound through five innings, allowing one run and fanning eight, but Johnson opted to pull him because of tightness and the cold weather. The Cougars made a few errors in the sixth inning with Ras Pace on the mound that allowed three runs to score to fall 4-3. Pace drove in a pair with a single in the second inning.
As the host to Ben’s Ford Christian Feb. 7, the Cougars cruised to an 11-0 victory with Wilks belting a homer, a double and driving in three. Robert Johnson also had 3 RBI, and Duncan drove in two on a double. Herring was perfect in five innings of work, not allowing a hit or a walk while striking out six, but lost the perfect game because of an error.
Friday at Centreville Academy, Wilks lifted yet another bomb and Thompson had 2 RBI in a 8-3 win. Riles Stuart went three innings, striking out five and allowing one earned, and Duncan struck out six in four innings of one-run ball.
Wilks homered again Saturday, his sixth of the year and No. 38 of his already illustrious prep career, and drove in four in a 14-4 home win over Discovery Christian. Patrick Gill knocked in a pair with a double and a single, and Robert Johnson plated two. Pace and Ethan Stringer both struck out three in two innings apiece.
“They’re starting to understand,” Johnson said of the recent run. “Baseball is a growing game, and that’s what we’re trying to get the kids to do. It’s 80 percent mental and 20 percent physical, and we’ve adapted to that. I’m pleased where we are. Pitching is finally starting to come around, and I think it’s going to be one of our strong points.”
Johnson said Monday the Cougars are about to figure out just how good they are and can be with two 6A schools, a 5A school and a 2A school on the schedule.
“Neshoba Central is a contender in 5A. Friday we’re down at the beach (Ocean Springs High School in the Battle at the Beach) against Southhaven, which is the biggest public school in the state. Then we play the No. 4 ranked team in the state with Warren Central, so we’re going to see where we are,” he said. “Then next week we have PCS two nights then Brookhaven (Academy). We’re really going to be tested.”
The Cougars played Neshoba Central at Meridian Community College Tuesday and Pontchartrain Christian Wednesday at Parklane Academy, but results were unavailable at press time. They will play East Union at 2:30 Thursday at St. Martin High School, Southaven at 2:30 and Warren Central at 5 Friday at Ocean Springs and host Lamar Christian Monday at 7.
Robert Johnson has emerged as one of the best hitters on the squad through the early portion of the season despite not having a regular spot in the lineup to start the year. Coach Johnson said he liked his swing during the offseason and liked it even more when he saw him play in junior varsity and decided to plug him in.
“Since he’s gotten his opportunity he’s taken it and ran with it. Even the outs he’s making are hard outs. He’s hitting everything on a line and doing everything we ask him to do,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier for a kid right now than to see the way he’s hitting the baseball.”
It’s a similar story to Robert Johnson’s emergence in both football and basketball this season as well. In football he was pegged as a complementary wide receiver and became the No. 1 target. In basketball he became a key player in the rotation despite it being his first year with the team. He’s currently only behind Wilks in batting average (.467) and RBI (9) despite being ninth on the team in plate appearances.
Johnson said between the sophomore and junior classes, the Cougars have a lot of good problems to have in the lineup with several players deserving of playing time.
Pictured Above: Columbia Academy's Ras Pace delivers a pitch against West Marion. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
