Columbia Central hasn't had much luck against Hanover-Horton recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Golden Eagles will be playing in front of their home fans against the Comets at 4:00 p.m. Both teams are coming into the game red-hot, with Columbia Central sitting on four straight wins and Hanover-Horton on three.
On Monday, Columbia Central beat Michigan Center 8-5.
Noah Dankert
| 05/12/25 vs Michigan Center | 0 |
| 05/07/25 @ Homer | 1 |
| 04/03/25 @ Blissfield | 1 |
| 04/01/25 @ Clinton | 2 |
Noah Dankert made a big impact while hitting and pitching. He tossed 1.2 innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 1-for-2 with two runs and one stolen base.
In other batting news, Nick Wilding was incredible, going a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Lukas Calhoun, who went 2-for-4 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
Columbia Central hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. The team has now struck out at least four batters in three consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, it may have taken eight innings to finish the job, but Hanover-Horton ultimately got the result they hoped for on Monday. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the team sidled past Manchester 2-1.
Luke Soper spent all eight innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered only one earned run on one hit and racked up 14 Ks.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Lukas NaDell, who went 3-for-4 with two doubles and one stolen base. That's the most hits he has posted since back in April.
Columbia Central's win was their eighth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 12-2. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.1 runs over those games. As for Hanover-Horton, their win bumped their record up to 17-9.
Friday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Columbia Central hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .319. However, it's not like Hanover-Horton struggles in that department as they've averaged .362. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Columbia Central couldn't quite finish off Hanover-Horton when the teams last played back in May of 2024 and fell 2-0. Will the Golden Eagles have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
