(Riley Hennessy’20/Media Team)

Columbus Academy opened the week with a huge league matchup against West Jefferson High School on Monday, April 24. The Vikings and Rough Riders played two games. The first was to finish the game that was postponed due to severe weather on April 5.

The home game began in the bottom of the sixth, with West Jefferson scoring one run.  The Vikings were shut down in their half of the last inning, suffering a 7-6 loss.

The teams’  second game went down to the wire.  Matt Saling was on the mound, dealing five and a third innings, only giving up three hits along the way. 

The Vikings offense struggled against West Jeff’s solid pitching. Then junior Ryan Mitchell and senior Lou Burns led the way with two hits a piece.The Vikings led 3-2 heading into the seventh inning, but the Rough Riders singled in the tying run which put the game into extra innings. 

In the ninth, Academy had the bases loaded with one out. Burns drew the walk that drove in the game with winning run, ending with 4-3. 

On Wednesday, April 26, the Vikings travelled to Worthington Christian in another important league game. The Vikings struggled offensively, but senior Matthew Schmitz kept Academy in the game on the mound, surrendering three runs through six innings.

Down 3-0 in the seventh inning, the Vikings rattled off multiple hits including a double from Mitchell that scored the tying runs.For the second consecutive game, the Vikings headed to extra innings. Academy was on the wrong side of the end of the outcome this time, however, when Worthington Christian singled in a run to win in walk-off fashion, 4-3. 

The team’s  Saturday double header against Hartley was postponed due to severe weather.

Academy hopes to make a statement heading into the tournament. 

They play six times this week, highlighted by Senior Night against London on Wednesday, May 3.