While the Cougars only have one win through their first five games, they have some leeway to consider.
Columbia Academy (1-4, 1-0) has played a very difficult schedule, was without several key starters for its first three games and has a new coach at the helm.
“So far we’ve had a lot of adversity through these first five games with the weather. Either it’s raining or 22 degrees or we’re playing at 9 in the morning. All five games we’ve had adversity to handle. I feel like we’ve handled it well,” first-year head coach Keith Stanley said. “We have some young guys in some key spots right now that don’t have any varsity experience so we’re just trying to get over those humps. But I feel like we’re about to get to a point in the season where we’re going to peak.”
With Tate Duncan, Ras Pace, Robert Johnson, Hays Carley and Ethan Stringer still in basketball, CA had to lean on a host of young players early on. Stanley said the fact CA remained competitive until their arrival is a testament to how hard the team works and that the basketball players have already brought a new energy into the dugout.
To begin the season the Cougars lost 9-5 at Brookhaven Academy Feb. 13 despite a home run by Slade Wilks that went an estimated 450 feet. Then on Feb. 15 at home, CA fell 10-8 to Copiah Academy even though the Southern Miss signee launched two more long balls. Wilks homered again Feb. 24 against Pearl River Central at Pearl River Community College, but a 13-run sixth inning led to a 23-4 loss.
On Friday the Cougars lost to Brookhaven Academy again on the road, this time 8-5. Robert Johnson had two singles and 2 RBI, while Mason Dilmore allowed just one earned run across 3 1/3 innings on the bump. CA picked up its first win Monday in its district opener at home, beating Amite School Center 14-6.
Stanley said junior Trevor Courtney, who doesn’t have any varsity experience, is going to be CA’s shortstop this year, and if the Cougars are going to win games he’s going to need to make some key plays and hold down the most important defensive position.
“He’s done it so far. He had two really good plays against Pearl River Central, and for us to be successful breaking him in at shortstop is going to be key,” Stanley said. “The older guys have been producing, but it’s going to be that they can’t get in a lull and stop producing.”
With Pace back in the lineup at third base, Wilks has moved to center field.
The Cougars had walked 29 batters in 25 innings going into Monday’s game, but Stanley said all of the pitchers are fundamentally sound and that it’s more of a mentality issue.
“It’s just beating it into some of these guys’ brains that in order to be successful in high school baseball, you have to pound the strike zone. You don’t necessarily have to hit your spot every time, but if you can throw it over the plate more times than not you’re going to be more successful,” he said. “I will say, though, the weather we’ve had to play in has been difficult to throw strikes in.”
The Cougars will play at Amite School Center Friday in a doubleheader to wrap up their first district series before heading to West Marion Monday.
Pictured Above: CA shortstop Peyton Rowell throws to first base Feb. 15. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
