The Columbia Wildcats will take on the Bishop Kelly Knights at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. Columbia is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.7 runs per game this season.
While Columbia's victory against Nampa wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. Columbia had just enough and edged out Nampa 5-4. The win continues a trend for the Wildcats in their matchups with the Bulldogs: they've now won eight in a row.
Finley Stern
| 03/25/25 vs Nampa | 2 |
| 03/21/25 vs Burley | 2 |
| 03/14/25 vs Cole Valley Christian | 2 |
| 03/12/25 @ Mountain Home | 2 |
Columbia's victory was truly a team effort as three different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Finley Stern, who scored two runs while going 1-for-2. Columbia is 3-1 when Stern posts two or more runs, but 1-5 otherwise. Another was Eli Wilson, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Meanwhile, Bishop Kelly entered their tilt with Emmett on Wednesday with two consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with three. They were the clear victors by a 9-1 margin over the Huskies. The Knights might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won four matches by seven runs or more this season.
Zach Wright was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He struck out nine batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits (and not a single walk). Furthermore, he didn't allow a single walk, the first time he has blanked an opponent since back in April of 2024. He was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 3-for-4. That's the most hits he has posted since back in April of 2024.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Jaxson Brady, who scored two runs while going 2-for-3. The dominant performance also gave him a new career-high in RBI (two). Lucas Blaine was another key player, scoring a run while going 2-for-4.
Bishop Kelly hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Emmett struck out nine times.
Columbia's win bumped their record up to 4-6. As for Bishop Kelly, their victory bumped their record up to 4-7.
Bishop Kelly's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Columbia has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .444. It's a different story for Bishop Kelly, though, as they've only averaged .358. Will they be able to contain Columbia's hitters?
Columbia might still be hurting after the 13-5 defeat they got from Bishop Kelly in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can Columbia avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
