Columbia’s 13 runs were hard to keep track of without an operating scoreboard against Red Bud (7-3) last Wednesday. At the start of the game, a Columbia High School student accidentally ran into a light pole in the Eagleview Elementary parking lot after letting out a cheer for his CHS softball team. The wreck caused the pole to come down on top of his truck along with the power lines — cutting off power to the scoreboard. The student was not injured.

With CHS senior Kaitlin Grohman on the mound, the game had an exciting start in more ways than one. Red Bud led off with three runs, followed by four from the Eagles in the bottom of the first. Columbia would go on to score five and four runs in the final two innings to defeat Red Bud, 13-3.

“The girls are playing together as a team and playing for each other,” CHS softball coach Rhonda Major said in response to her team’s success so far this season.

The Eagles notched wins against big school powerhouse Belleville East the following day, 9-6, a double header sweep against Piasa Southwestern Saturday and an easy road win against New Athens on Monday, 13-1.

“It’s always a good confidence boost when you beat good teams,” Major said. “It helps reinforce that if you work hard, play as a team and make yourselves better each day, anything is possible.”

Aside from the team’s explosive offense, pitchers Kaitlin Grohman and Brianna Weilbacher have been electric on the mound, contributing to the team’s 10-game win streak. Grohman has an ERA of 3.28.

Columbia played its first conference game Tuesday against Freeburg, winning, 10-0.

Bulldogs win five in a row

The Waterloo Bulldogs seem to have turned things around, getting all five of its wins right in a row this past week.

The Bulldogs notched wins against Freeburg (9-1), Marissa (8-2), Dupo (6-5) and Steeleville (11-1), while then stomping conference foe Jerseyville, 16-3, on Monday.

Waterloo gave its fans quite a showing Friday and Saturday, first inching past Dupo in a nail biting win.

With the score at 2-0 coming into the third, the Tigers scored a whopping five runs. But the ‘Dogs were persistent, scratching at Dupo’s lead inning by inning until taking the lead in the fifth. Waterloo held on for the win, 6-5. And then went on to notch 14 hits and defeat Steeleville at home Saturday, 11-1. Bridget Bushong got the win for WHS, while Tiffany Harbison had an impressive eight “K’s” on the mound against the Warriors.

Waterloo travels to Civic Memorial for its second conference match-up Wednesday.

Hawks snap losing streak

The Gibault High School softball team is off to a fantastic 11-3 start to its season. But they had its first back-to-back losses this past week against Belleville East (2-1) on Wednesday and Triad (11-1) on Thursday.

The Lady Hawks turned things around without adieu over the weekend, stomping Trico, 12-6.

GHS senior Morgan Weber got the win for the Hawks and had two strikeouts on the day.

Junior catcher Lauren Prader led the Hawks with three RBIs, while senior Megan Wagner led with four hits against Trico.

Monday, however, the Hawks were shut out, 3-0, by Red Bud.

Thursday, Gibault and Waterloo were scheduled for a match-up in the annual rival game at WHS, but the game was cancelled due to rain.