Seniors end season with loss to GI

July 21--FREMONT -- The Columbus Cornerstone Insurance Group Seniors entered Wednesday's contest against Grand Island Home Federal needing one win to make the American Legion state tournament.

But Columbus fell short Wednesday in a 15-14 offensive showdown that featured a combined 35 hits in the Class A-6 Area tournament at Schilke Baseball Complex in Fremont.

The Seniors were led by Miles Putnam, who was one of six Columbus batters to record multiple hits. The University of Nebraska at Kearney signee ended his high school career in memorable fashion with five hits, including two home runs and a walk, while accumulating seven RBIs.

Hunter Schilling added three hits, while Dylan Benne, Zach McDuffee, Brady Dugan and Andrew Altstadt all had two hits each.

Columbus had put itself in strong position to win in the eighth inning with four runs via four hits, including a three-run home run by Altstadt to make it a 14-10 contest going into the bottom of the inning.

Top-seeded Grand Island started the eighth with two hits and got one more later in the inning, along with an error and a walk to tie the contest at 14-all.

After Columbus failed to score in the top of the ninth inning, Grand Island capitalized after the first two batters were hit by pitches. A single at the top of the lineup scored the winning run to end Columbus' season in a game that saw three lead changes and three ties.

The contest started off in Grand Island's favor with two runs in each the first and second inning to put Home Federal up 4-0 heading into the third inning. Columbus got on the scoreboard in the top of the third frame on a triple by Trey Rinkol and a double by Putnam to make it 4-2.

After a pitching change from Jarod Augustine to Trevor Sanne in the third, the momentum began to shift in Columbus' direction.

After Grand Island answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the third, the Seniors bats got going in the fifth. A Schilling single and a three-run homer by Putnam evened the score at 5-all.

The success at the plate continued in the sixth with four more runs off hits by Altstadt, Cade Hansen and Schilling, along with another home run by Putnam, to give Columbus a 9-5 lead.

After Grand Island started its comeback in the bottom of the frame by scoring two runs, Columbus scored one in the seventh inning to give the team a little more breathing room at 10-7.

Home Federal tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, getting two hits to start the inning, with an error, a hit batsman and a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 10.

Second-seeded Columbus finished the season going 3-2 at the tournament.

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