Sandusky - The Columbian Junior Varsity Tornadoes displayed late-inning heroics on Friday, scoring five runs in the final frame to secure an 11-6 victory over Sandusky. In a back-and-forth battle defined by patient hitting and aggressive baserunning, Columbian found a way to pull ahead when it mattered most.

The scoring began in the third inning when Columbian manufactured a run through a daring steal of home. However, Sandusky responded in the bottom of the fourth, capitalizing on a Tornadoes error and a pair of RBI hits to briefly take the lead. Columbian reclaimed the advantage in the top of the fifth after Blake Rhodes lofted a sacrifice fly and Russel Fox drew a bases-loaded walk, but the seesaw battle continued into the sixth as Sandusky tied the game at 6-6.

The decisive moment arrived in the top of the seventh inning. With the game hanging in the balance, the Tornadoes' offense caught fire, plating five runs on just two hits. The definitive blow came from Russel Fox, who worked a deep count before lining a two-run single on the sixth pitch of his at-bat. Fox finished the day with a team-high two RBIs, anchoring the middle of the lineup.

On the mound, Blake Rhodes turned in a gritty complete-game performance to earn the win. Rhodes surrendered only one earned run over seven innings of work, racking up nine strikeouts while navigating seven walks. His counterpart for Sandusky also went the distance, striking out 10 in a high-intensity effort that saw Columbian’s hitters show remarkable discipline to draw 13 total walks.

Speed was a primary weapon for the Tornadoes, who dismantled the Sandusky defense on the base paths with a staggering 26 stolen bases. Carter Everhart, Ayden Yoshimoto, Brady Renninger, RJ Kelley, Rhodes, Fox, Brahm Bolen, and Connor Donaldson all recorded multiple steals in the effort. Bolen proved to be a particular nuisance for the pitcher, leading the team with three walks.

While Sandusky's offense saw contributions from across the lineup—including a two-RBI performance from their starting pitcher—they were unable to match Columbian's late-game surge. The Tornadoes’ defense remained resilient through the final outs, ensuring Rhodes’ dominant strikeout performance wasn't wasted.