MAPLEWOOD, NJ – The Columbia High School varsity baseball team defeated perennial powerhouse Seton Hall Prep, 6-4, April 10, at Porcello Field in West Orange.
Junior shortstop Eliot Dix went 2-for-3 with a walk and three runs; junior outfielder Phil Whitney went 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBI; senior John DelGreco, senior catcher Dan Lawall, and senior third baseman Luke Jackson each had a hit and an RBI; and senior first baseman Aiden Mayberry drove in an run. The Cougars scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning to erase a 4-3 deficit. DelGreco pitched a complete game, scattering six hits and two walks with three strikeouts for the win.
The loss was the first of the season for SHP, which had a 6-1 record through April 14.
The Cougars lost to Roxbury, 5-4, April 11, at Underhill Field. Roxbury scored three runs in the top of the seventh to break a 2-2 tie. Columbia scored in the bottom of the seventh, but came up short. Jackson went 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI; Dix was 2-for-4 with an RBI; and Mayberry and Whitney each went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Columbia defeated Montclair, 7-3, April 13, in Montclair. Dix went 2-for-4 with two runs; Jackson went 1-for-3 with two runs; Lawall had a double and two RBI; and Mayberry, junior Spencer Melee and Whiney each had an RBI. Senior Palmer Krais pitched 6 ⅓ innings with seven strikeouts for the win.
The Cougars hosted Nutley on Saturday, April 14, but lost, 11-5, to move to a 3-3 record. Dix was 2-for-4 with a double and a run; Jackson was 1-for-3 with a double, walk, and three RBI; Lawall had double, RBI and run; senior Jake Lefferts had a single, RBI, walk, and run; senior Christian Pierre had a single, walk and two runs and senior Rowan Marbury, Mayberry and Whitney each had a hit.
Upcoming games
April 18, Caldwell, 4 p.m.
April 20, Seton Hall Prep, 4 p.m.
April 21, Demarest, 11 a.m.
April 23, Newark Academy, 4 p.m.
April 24, at Caldwell, 4 p.m.
April 25, at East Side, 4 p.m.