Columbus State wins Peach Belt baseball tourney
The Columbus State baseball team got a stellar pitching performance, a home run-robbing catch and timely hitting in winning the Peach Belt Conference tournament championship Sunday.
The fifth-ranked Cougars (42-12) knocked off Lander 9-4 to complete a rare double — winning the regular season and tournament championships in the same season. This is the first time CSU has accomplished that since 1996. It is the Cougars’ fifth PBC tournament title (1994, 1996, 2006 and 2010).
“This has been an amazing journey,” CSU coach Greg Appleton said. “This team really is a family and it shows on the field in how they play for each other.
“It is an amazing feeling that we won both titles and it is just a testament to these guys for always fighting and working hard to get better each and every day. Our journey isn’t over yet and I know these guys want to accomplish even more next week.”
Brandon Koehler (10-1) pitched seven innings and allowed just three runs on five hits. Koehler was coming off a dreadful performance in the opening game of the PBC tourney. He gave up six runs in just 1 1/3 innings.
“I was just hoping for another chance to pitch in one more game,’’ Koehler said. “I’m glad coach (Greg Appleton) gave me another opportunity to give the team a chance to win. He talked to me the day before the game and told me what he expected of me, giving me that edge of what I needed to do.”
Koehler got plenty of help from his defense, especially center fielder Tyler Fichter.
The Cougars were not sure Fichter would be able to play right up until game time. Fichter fouled a ball off his foot in Friday’s game and had to sit out Saturday’s contest.
In the first inning with CSU ahead 2-0, Lander’s Zach Daly hit a long fly ball to right center field. Fichter climbed the fence, leaned over and robbed Daly of a game-tying home run.
“The catch was just mainly reaction,’’ Fichter said. “I knew it was going to be a play on the wall, so I made sure I got back there first so I could have even a chance of stealing a home run from them.
“I was in the right spot at the right time and it paid off for us. It was definitely a huge momentum changer in the game even though it was in the first inning. It showed them that we were here to play and would do whatever it takes.”
That was not all from the defense. CSU, which leads the nation in double plays turned, turned two more on Sunday.
To compliment the pitching and defense, the CSU offense came out of its slump. CSU, which averaged 10 runs a game during the regular season, had scored just 13 in the first three games.
Ryan Ihle and Christian Miller led the way, driving in three runs apiece. Miller hit a homer, and Ihle had a pair of doubles.
The Cougars jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. After two outs, Mike McClellan, Miller and Blake Edwards hit singles off three straight pitches. Matt Nettles followed with a double the opposite way, down the left-field line, to drive in two runs.
Miller hit his homer in the third for a 3-0 lead.
After Lander scored one in the third, CSU came back with three in the fourth.
Ihle doubled in two, and Miller drove in Ihle.
Lander scored twice in the fourth to cut CSU’s lead to three, 6-3.
Miller drove in a run with a ground out in the sixth. Ihle doubled in a run in the eighth and he scored on Edwards’ single.
With the PBC tournament title, CSU is assured of being in the NCAA Southeast Regional next week. The only question is whether the Cougars will host. The NCAA selection show was late Sunday night.
This story was originally published May 15, 2016 at 7:30 PM with the headline "Columbus State wins Peach Belt baseball tourney."