MAPLEWOOD, NJ – The fifth-seeded Columbia High School varsity baseball team dropped a tough 8-6 decision to fourth-seeded Nutley in the quarterfinals of the Greater Newark Tournament on May 10 at Nutley. The loss ended the Cougars’ eight-game winning streak.
Columbia scored three runs in the top of the first inning and one run in the second inning for a 4-0 lead. Nutley rallied with four runs in the bottom of the second to tie it 4-4.
After Nutley scored a run in the bottom of the third for a 5-4 lead, Columbia answered in the top of the fourth to tie it 5-5. The Raiders broke the tie with a run in the bottom of fourth and two runs in the fifth for an 8-5 lead. Columbia got a run in the top of the sixth, but Nutley held on for the win.
Luke Jackson, John DelGreco and Christian Pierre each had two hits and an RBI; Aidan Mayberry had a hit and two RBI; and Rowan Marbury and Dan Lawall each had two hits for the Cougars.
The next day, the Cougars lost to Cedar Grove, 10-5, to move to a 12-7 overall record. The Cougars were in second place in the Super Essex Conference-American Division with a 9-3 record, behind Seton Hall Prep, which is 10-3 in the division.
Eliot Dix went 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI and Pierre went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI in the 5-2 win over Montclair on May 7. Jackson and Mayberry each had an RBI. Michael Roseman pitched six innings, allowing two runs on four hits with six strikeouts for the win.
The Cougars beat Millburn, 8-7, with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning on May 8 at Underhill. Pierre had three hits and three RBI and Mayberry had two hits and two RBI. Jackson and Jake Lefferts each had a hit and an RBI.
The Cougars hope to make a strong run in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group 4 state tournament that begins May 21.
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