Columbia is 1-9 against Lancaster Catholic since May of 2021 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Monday. The Crimson Tide will challenge the Crusaders at 4:15 p.m. Columbia is coming into the game hot, having won their last three games.
Columbia came out on top against Milton Hershey on Friday thanks in part to the team's impressive nine-run second inning. The Crimson Tide put the hurt on the Spartans with a sharp 14-0 victory. Considering the Crimson Tide have won six contests by more than five runs this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
The team relied heavily on Cameron McClair, who went 4-for-5 with two runs, two doubles, and one stolen base. What's more, he posted two RBI, the most he's had since back in March. Another player making a difference was John Buzzendore, who got on base in three of his five plate appearances with three RBI, one stolen base, and one run.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Columbia kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 16 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, Lancaster Catholic didn't have quite enough to beat Annville-Cleona on Wednesday and fell 2-1. The Crusaders have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Lancaster Catholic saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Zach Zuber, who went 1-for-2 with one run.
Columbia's win bumped their record up to 10-8. As for Lancaster Catholic, their loss dropped their record down to 8-8.
Columbia's speedy runners might be the difference in Monday's matchup. The Crimson Tide have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.4 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Lancaster Catholic, though, as they've been averaging only 0.7 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Columbia continue to outrun the ball?
Columbia came out on top in a nail-biter against Lancaster Catholic in their previous meeting back in April, sneaking past 3-1. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Crimson Tide since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
