FLATONIA — The Columbus High School baseball team matched up against Randolph High School in a playoff game at Bulldogs Field May 6 and defeated Randolph by mercy rule with a final score of 18-3. The Cardinals hitting was a force to be reckoned with and Randolph had trouble putting the bat on the ball due to Columbus’ elite pitching. "We talked about that we were up one to nothing in the series and we wanted to come out early and kind of set the tone for game two,” said Columbus head baseball coach Heath Allen.
"I think we did that. It was a three run home run and it just kind of took off from there. Once one guy starts hitting, I think it kind of gets everybody else going, and we were able to do that today, so it was good."
Cardinals junior pitcher Kaleb Kuhn started the game and pitched three strong innings to keep his team's big lead intact. "Just get ahead early," Kuhn said on his mindset at the mound. "Just attack. That's pretty much it. Attack and get up early." Columbus scored 11 runs in the first inning, then added three more runs in the next inning on a double and two base hits from senior Conner Geisler and junior Trevor Berger. Randolph an swered in their next at bat with a walk, single, and double to make it 14-2 in the bottom of the third inning.
The Cardinals lengthened their lead even more with a double from senior Cooper Brown and two base hits, one being from Geisler, to put it at 16-2. The Ro- Hawks sent in one more run in the top of the fourth inning after two walks, a sacrifice bunt, a pass ball, and a single from Matthew Peche.
Columbus then capped off the afternoon with a few more runners reaching base, which led to a double and a sacrifice fly to cen - terfield from junior Kase Wei - shuhn to drive in a run. Cardinals pitching then closed the door with a ground out from Randolph to win the contest 18-3 in the top of the fifth inning.
