MAPLEWOOD, NJ (updated Tuesday April 18, 4:40 p.m.) – The Columbia High School varsity softball team won three of five games after an 0-2 start to the season to move to a 3-4 record through April 17.
The Cougars defeated Kearny, 7-6, April 8, for their first win of the season in Kearny. Freshman Claire Salinardo went 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBI; junior Sophie Goldman went 2-for-4 with two runs; and freshman Hudson Hassler, junior Catherine John and freshman Sydney Rednik each had an RBI.
CHS won its next game with a 21-3 victory over Bloomfield Tech on April 10. Junior Ally Krause had three hits, including a double, with five RBI and four runs; and Salinardo had two singles and a triple with three RBI and two runs. Junior Maya Goldner and Hassler each had two hits and two RBI; junior Rebekah Czukoski had a hit and two RBI; and sophomore Abby Botschka, freshman Alexa Stephan and junior Samantha Waldon each had a hit and one RBI.
The Cougars fell at Nutley, 10-5, April 11. Junior Sophie Goldman had two hits, an RBI and a run; Hassler had two hits and two runs; Goldner had a hit and two RBI; and John and Krause each had an RBI. John struck out 10.
The Cougars bounced back with a 9-8 win over Millburn on April 13 at Millburn. Goldner went 4-for-4 with a home run, triple, three RBI; Hassler went 3-for-4 with a run; and Waldon had two RBI. Krause also drove in a run and John struck out 12 for the win. Millburn scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh, but the Cougars held on for the win.
CHS lost to Livingston, 7-6, April 17, at home. Goldner had three hits and two RBI; John had two RBI, and Krause, Salinardo and junior Clementine Sherman each had two hits.