WHITE SALMON — The Columbia High School (CHS) baseball team started its 2026 season with two home WIAA Class 1A Trico League wins on March 19 against Kalama High School.
The Bruins (2-0, 2-0 Trico) beat the Chinooks (0-4, 0-2 Trico) by 8-6 and 12-11 scores to start the season. In the first game, sophomore Garrick Sauter got the start on the mound, going 3 1/3 innings, giving up 3 earned runs and striking out five. Freshman Ryder Graves got the win on the mound in relief, pitching 3 2/3 innings, giving up zero earned runs, and striking out five. Although the pitchers gave up six runs combined, they did not give up any hits in their combined seven innings.
Junior Brody Landgren went 2-for-3 with a triple, an RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore Cameron Collins went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a walk and a run scored. Senior Falkner Grabb scored two runs, junior Kellen Olson drove in two runs, while Graves and Collins both stole two bases apiece.
In game two, the Bruins squandered a 7-3 lead after one inning but scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to overcome an 11-9 deficit and earn the walk-off win. Olson started the game on the mound, going five innings, giving up six hits and four earned runs, and striking out six Kalama hitters. Junior Trenton Boydston shut the door and received the win in relief, going two innings, giving up one hit, no runs, and striking out two.
Landgren was 2-for-2 with a double and a triple — with two walks, two RBI, and two runs scored. Bruin head Coach William Gross said Landgren provided energy from the top of the order the entire day.
Graves knocked in two runs and scored twice, while Boydston had a three-run, bases-clearing double. Sophomore Gabe Borton also scored two runs.
“Overall, I am really proud of how we fought back the entire day, as there were multiple instances, especially with a young team, where we could have mailed it in and let the day get away from us,” said Gross. “The guys played really hard, and it was an outstanding start to our season.”
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