Columbus wins in extra innings over Harris County to move into tie for first

In a game that would break a tie between Columbus and Harris County, both in the Region 1-5A standings and in the season series between the two teams, it was all hands on deck.

That meant there was nothing — not even an untimely bout with strep throat — that was going to keep Cason Greathouse from contributing.

He started the game in right field, but came in to pitch in the fifth inning. Greathouse stayed there for the rest of the game, allowing just three hits and striking out seven in 4 1/3 innings pitched, to help the Blue Devils to a 3-2 victory in nine innings.

The win moved Columbus into a tie at the top of the region standings with Northside, who are both 8-2 in region play. Harris County, which is 7-3, dropped to third place.

Columbus coach Chad Mathis acted surprised that his ace pitcher had not been feeling 100 percent prior to the game.

“If he is, he didn’t show it today,” Mathis said. “I’m proud of that.”

Greathouse entered the game in the top of the fifth inning with the bases loaded, two outs and the teams tied at 2-2. He needed just one pitch to escape that jam, inducing a soft lineout to first base to end the inning.

“I didn’t really want to bring him in,” Mathis said. “But there late when it was tied up in the fifth, I said, ‘Hey, let’s go. We need this win.’ He did a great job.”

While the Columbus offense struggled to get anything going over the course of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings — due in large part to the strong relief effort of Harris County’s Justin Brooks — Greathouse remained in control.

He allowed a leadoff single to Jacob Rovig in the top of the sixth, but struck out the next two batters and stranded Rovig at second base at the end of the inning. In the seventh, Rhett Butler singled to lead off the inning, but Greathouse, again, struck out the next two batters. A two-out double by Harry Rich put runners at second and third, but neither would score as Tanner Maley grounded out to first.

In the eighth and ninth, Greathouse set down six of the seven batters he faced, allowing only Hunter Hartshorne to reach first on a hit by pitch.

“I just treated it like I’m starting or coming in, it doesn’t matter,” Greathouse said after the game. “Just go in and do what I usually do: Throw strikes and let our defense work, let our offense work, come away with a victory.”

Finally, in the bottom of the ninth, the offense went to work. Dawson Weaver reached on an infield single and Blake Hicks was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Greathouse sacrificed them up to second and third, and Jack Copley was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out.

“The only job to do is hit a fly ball to score that run,” Mathis said.

Instead, Bremer Eysel hit a high chopper into the ground, giving Weaver just enough time to slide in under the tag at home plate.

“I was just waiting to see what would happen,” Weaver said. “He hit a high ground ball to second, and I just ran as fast as he could.”

The two teams combined for just 12 hits in the game and neither team committed an error. Greathouse, Copley and Eysel all drove in runs for the Blue Devils, while Rovig and Austin Anderson tallied an RBI apiece for Harris County.

This story was originally published April 2, 2016 at 8:15 PM with the headline "Columbus wins in extra innings over Harris County to move into tie for first."