Columbus secures second place in Region 1-5A with win over Hardaway

A 10-minute downpour couldn’t dampen Columbus’ spirits after a 12-4 win over Hardaway on Thursday clinched second place in Region 1-5A.

With second place comes a home series in next week’s Class 5A state playoffs.

“There was no lightning, so they kept playing,” Columbus coach Chad Mathis said. “As long as there was good footing on the mound and plate area I was like lets keep playing even though I am still soaked. It was a good day for us to play a few guys on the bench.”

After a scoreless first inning, the rain began to fall as Columbus was batting in the top of the second inning.

With one out, Dawson Weaver, Tristan Moran and Jerrette Lee walked to load the bases. Blake Hicks’ single scored Weaver. Moran scored on the play due to a Hawk error and Lee moved up to third.

Hicks stole second base ahead of a Jack Copley walk to again load the bases. Cason Greathouse picked up an RBI when he was hit by a pitch. Gage Dempsey hit a sacrifice fly to score Hicks with the fourth run.

Copley scored on a balk that moved Greathouse to second. Greathouse went to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a second wild pitch. The run pushed Columbus to a 6-0 lead.

Columbus stretched the lead to 9-0 in the top of the third. Moran and Lee reached on one-out walks. Hicks reached on an infield error to load the bases. Copley reached on a fielder’s choice that cut down Hicks at second base and drove in a run. Greathouse doubled in Lee and Copley.

Hardaway got on the board in the top of the third when Sam Anthony reached on a single, went to second on a wild pitch and third on a balk. Mykel Page grounded to third, scoring Anthony. The throw to first was high, allowing Page to reach and continue on to second. Page went to third on a wild pitch and Jalin Thomas walked. Jonathan Manibusan picked up an RBI as he grounded out to third. Duke Hunter also grounded to third, but Will Ferrell’s second errant throw of the inning allowed Thomas to score.

Columbus replaced starter Jonathan Brand with Clayton Duncan, who quelled the rally at 9-3.

Columbus got the bats going in the sixth inning when Trent Grantham led off with a single and went to third on Jackson Mellenberg’s double. Austin Foster hit a sacrifice fly scoring Grantham. Coleman Strothers singled. When the ball got under the left fielder’s glove, Strothers raced all the way to third as Mellenberg scored from second. Brener Eysel grounded out, scoring Strothers for the 12-3 lead.

Anthony led off the bottom of the seventh with a single but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double. Page singled and went to second on a ground out by Thomas. Joseph Crowell drove in Page on a two-out single.

“From this point forward it is 0-0 in my book. We’ve got an opportunity to go into the playoffs as a two seed,” Mathis said. “We’re still hosting the first round. Once you get into the playoffs anything can happen.”

This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 9:03 PM with the headline "Columbus secures second place in Region 1-5A with win over Hardaway."