Seniors walk off with pair of wins

HASTINGS - The low hit total for the Columbus Bank senior baseball team is a bit deceiving.

Columbus collected just nine hits in two games, but used 21 walks and hit batsmen to post 17 runs for a pair of victories at Hastings Sunday. The American Legion Seniors ended the first game after five innings with a 12-2 win, while picking up a 5-2 victory in the second game.

“We did a great job of being patient at the plate,” Columbus coach Gale Bly said. “We took advantage of what they gave us. We hit ball well - a lot better than what our hit total indicates.”

Columbus broke open the first game with six runs in the second inning as Hastings pitchers struggled to find the strike zone as they walked two batters and hit two others. The Seniors put up five more runs in the fourth inning with the help of five bases on balls.

Paul Hansen finished with a double, and four other Columbus batters hit a single.

Michael Blatchford earned the win on the mound as he allowed just two hits in five innings of work. Blatchford also struck out two batters while issuing four walks.

In the second game, Columbus continued to reach base without its bats as Hastings put eight runners on via walk or hit batsman. The Seniors were outhit 5-4, but scored four runs in the second inning to take control. Wade Fleischacker went 2-for-4 with a double to lead the offense.

Columbus received a small scare as Hansen left the game after two innings with muscle tightness. He allowed two earned runs, but recorded all six outs on strikes.

Hansen's replacement, Zach Womboldt, used a different approach as he blanked Hastings during the final five innings. Womboldt, the winning pitcher, induced 10 flyouts and allowed just three hits. He failed to record a strikeout but didn't issue any walks.

We received nice efforts out of the three pitchers we used,” Bly said. “Also we had only two errors so we continue to play good defense. And I continue to tell the players that if you play good defense you can win a lot of games.”

The Seniors will take today off before playing Kearney Tuesday in a junior-senior doubleheader with the First National Bank Blues.

Game Two

Columbus (12-3) 040 100 0 - 5 4 1

Hastings 200 000 0 - 2 5 1

n Pitching: WP-Zach Womboldt, LP-Luke Goedet.

n Columbus Leading Hitters: Wade Fleischacker 2-for-4, 2B; Singles: Farmer, Womboldt.

Game One

Columbus 160 50 - 12 5 1

Hastings 001 10 - 2 2 2

n Pitching: WP-Michael Blatchford, LP-Milt Schneider.

n Columbus Leading Hitters: Doubles: Paul Hansen; Singles: Fleischacker, Kurt Farmer, Taylor Sansoni, Darrick Ramaekers.