Bruin baseball drops three games, remains in playoff chase

WHITE SALMON — The Columbia High School baseball team lost three games this past week, but the Bruins remain in the hunt for a district playoff spot.

Columbia lost, 16-0, to La Center High School on April 28 at home; 14-7 to Heritage High School on April 29; and 9-0 at La Center on April 30. Despite the losses, should Columbia win one of two games this week against Fort Vancouver, the Bruins will earn a spot in the district playoff, play-in round.

“We play at Evergreen on (May 4), at home against Fort Vancouver on (May 5), and at Fort Vancouver on (May 6),” Coach William Gross said. “If we win one of the two games against Fort Vancouver, we will play a play-in game against Hoquiam at 4 p.m. at home on Friday (May 8).”

Columbia is in fifth place in the eight-team Trico League. Fort Vancouver (1-14 overall) is in eighth place.

The Bruins (5-12, 5-7 Trico) couldn’t get going against ninth-ranked La Center (15-3, 11-1 Trico), in a shutout loss to start last week.

“We had a very busy week, playing three games in three days, including a 7:30 p.m. game in Hillsboro on Wednesday night,” said Gross. “We struggled at the plate a bit this week, but the boys battled hard in what was a very tough week.”

“With that being said, this week will not be any easier but may be even more important. We are in the hunt for a district playoff spot, something that hasn’t been done in at least five years. As I’ve said before, we are young and inexperienced, as we are only graduating one senior this spring. If we were able to clinch a district playoff berth with such a young team, it would be a huge step in the right direction for our program. The boys have regrouped and are ready for a busy week. We’re very grateful to be playing important, competitive games into May.”

Against the WIAA Class 3A Heritage Timberwolves (8-12) in Hillsboro, Ore., CHS was much improved from the plate with seven runs scored on the day. Junior Brody Landgren went 2-3, and freshman Sam Knott went 2-3 with an RBI.

In game two against La Center, the Bruins improved on the defensive end but were unable to score any runs for a second time against the three-loss Wildcats – who are a game out of first place in the Trico.