Tiffin - The Columbian Junior Varsity Tornadoes suffered a heartbreaking 11-8 loss in a ten-inning marathon against Van Buren on Monday, despite holding a four-run lead earlier in the contest. In a game defined by offensive bursts and high-stakes baserunning, Columbian was unable to hold off a late-inning surge by the visitors.

Columbian’s offense ignited in the bottom of the first inning when Blake Tucker laced a two-run double to put the Tornadoes on the board. The lead widened in the third inning after Connor Donaldson drove a single into play, extending the advantage to 5-2. Jackson Hohman was a force at the plate throughout the afternoon, finishing 3-for-4 with a double in the first and singles in both the fifth and ninth innings.

On the mound, Tucker started the game and provided a solid two and one-third innings of work, allowing only one hit and two runs while striking out three. However, the game shifted in the top of the seventh when a costly defensive error allowed Van Buren to knot the score at seven.

The two squads traded blows in extra innings. After Van Buren took a brief lead in the eighth, Max Hoyda delivered a clutch RBI single on an 0-2 count to tie the game at 8-8. The deadlock finally broke in the top of the tenth, where another defensive miscue and a late single allowed Van Buren to pull away for good.

The Tornadoes displayed an aggressive approach on the base paths, racking up 12 stolen bases as a team. Carter Everhart, RJ Kelley, Brahm Bolen, and Hohman each recorded multiple steals. Along with the speed, Columbian showed great discipline, drawing seven walks, led by Hoyda who reached twice via the base on balls. Bolen and Tucker joined Hohman in the multi-hit club as the team finished with nine total hits.

Despite the loss and the 14-hit attack from the opposition, the Tornadoes will look to bounce back quickly. They return to their home field this Wednesday to host Sandusky.