It didn’t take Terre Haute North very long to see why the Columbus North baseball team is the top team in the state in Class 4A.
The Bull Dogs poured in eight runs in the second inning and easily cruised to an 11-0 Conference Indiana victory to remain undefeated on the season.
“(Zach) Wager was real good on the mound today,” Columbus North coach Ben McDaniel said. “We had a little bit of trouble there in the top of the first establishing the fastball, getting ahead in the count, but we got out of it. He was on fire the rest of the way. I was really happy with Zach’s performance tonight. He’s doing what we expected him to do.”
In the second inning for the Bull Dogs (11-0-1), Blake Huffman reached base on an error, stole second base but advanced to third on a throwing error. Hayden McDaniel hit a single to score the first run of the game. Will Baker then was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. After they both runners stole a base, Luke Harmon delivered a single to drive in both runs to make it 3-0.
Wager singled, and Austin Bode walked to load the bases. Blake Stevens bunted in another run. With the bases still loaded following the bunt, Kyler McIntosh blasted a double to score two more runs for a 6-0 lead. Reese Harmon then hit a single, and two more runs scored to make it 8-0.
“We always come out strong and get a lot of runs, which helps our pitchers basically feel confident,” Wager said. “We always know we’re going to have the hits on offense, so we just trust our offense. If they hit and get a couple runs, we’ll come back and get more runs than they do.”
The Bull Dogs added three extra runs to put away the game in the fourth. Reese Harmon singled and Huffman walked, and Baker drove in both the runs with a double. Wager then drove in Baker with a single to right field.
Wager earned the win, going four innings and allowing one hit, with seven strikeouts. McIntosh pitched the final frame of the game.
“I felt great. I’m always feeling great because I’ve got a great defense behind me, and that showed,” Wager said. “They got that one hit in the beginning, and then they a couple other hits throughout the game that we had a great defense to make the play and not have any errors.”
McIntosh was 1 for 3 with a double and two RBIs, Reese Harmon was 2 for 3 with two RBIs, Stevens was 2 for 3 with an RBI, Baker was 2 for 2 with a double and two RBIs, Wager was 2 for 3 with an RBI, Bode was 1 for 2 with a double and Luke Harmon was 1 for 3 with two RBIs.
The Bull Dogs were supposed to play today against 4A No. 5 Center Grove, but that game has been postponed due to a lack of available umpires. The rescheduled date is yet to be determined.
