The Shaker Bison will square off against the Columbia Blue Devils at 4:15 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Shaker took a loss when they played away from home on Monday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Wednesday. They blew past Shenendehowa 10-4. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Bison considering their two-run performance the contest before.
Griffin Durant made a big impact no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, pitching three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Durant was also big at the plate, getting on base in three of his five plate appearances with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.
Daniel Cioffi
| 04/22/26 vs Shenendehowa | 3 |
| 04/06/26 @ Saratoga Central Catholic | 2 |
| 04/20/26 @ Shenendehowa | 1 |
| 04/10/26 @ Niskayuna | 1 |
| 04/01/26 @ Ichabod Crane | 1 |
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Daniel Cioffi, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with three runs, one stolen base, and one double. Those three runs gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Kiran Casey, who got on base in three of his five plate appearances with two stolen bases, one run, and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Columbia never let their opponents score on Wednesday. They were the clear victors by an 8-0 margin over Bethlehem Central. While the Blue Devils didn't have the best season last year (they finished 9-12), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Joseph (JJ) Miller tossed a big game, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only one hit while striking out eight over six innings pitched. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one hit in three consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Braydon Griffin was excellent, getting on base in all four of his plate appearances with one run, one double, and one RBI. That double was his first of the season. Sean Boniface was another key player, going 1-for-4 with two runs and one double.
Columbia kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Bethlehem Central only managed one.
Columbia's victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 6-3. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 7.7 runs over those games. As for Shaker, their victory bumped their record up to 7-1.
Shaker's speedy runners might be the difference in Friday's matchup. The Bison have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 5.5 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Columbia, though, as they've been averaging only 1.2 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Shaker continue to outrun the ball?
Shaker got the 'W' when the teams last played back in May of 2025 against Columbia by a conclusive 9-0 score. Do the Bison have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Blue Devils turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
