Columbus upsets Class 1A’s No. 13 WMU softball team

WINFIELD — Columbus has had a lot of exterior forces influence its play this season. Those forces include honoring the 1991 team that reached the state tournament when the state had yet to be divided into classes. It all culminated in the Wildcats defeating a ranked team in Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Division play. Columbus scored the tying and winning run in the top of the final inning for a 2-1 victory over Winfield-Mount Union’s softball team.

There was a lot of rain that fell over the area Thursday, but it was a figuratively rainy day for the Wolves. WMU had been ranked 15th two straight weeks in Class 1A but moved up to 13 Thursday afternoon. Thursday night, WMU got an entry in the loss column.

The 1991 Wildcats team visit was organized by Columbus head coach Katie Coil so the Wildcats could “pay respect to our past players (and) hear their stories of success and some struggles.”

Struggles then success is exactly what Lela Fort experienced. Having struck out in her previous three at bats against WMU ace Madie Anderson. Fort entered the batter’s box in the seventh inning with her team trailing 1-0 and connected with a pitch for a double. Emma Milder and Sera Vela scored on the hit.

Milder went 2-for-4 with a single and a triple. Vela was 1-for-3 and Libby White was 1-for-4. As the second batter in the Columbus lineup, Lily Coil provided some offense with two doubles, was intentionally walked twice and had a stolen base. As the winning pitcher, Coil provided defense as she allowed three hits, walked three and struck out three.

“Our defense played awesome,” coach Coil said.

Anderson had one of the three Wolves hits. Carly Sloan and Keely Malone each had a hit. Melina Oepping, who reached base by walk, scored the lone Wolf run.

Columbus’ overall record is 10-14 but 7-7 in the North. WMU is 14-4 overall. The loss is the Wolves third out of 13 North games (10-3). The other two North losses are to Class 2A’s No. 4 Louisa-Muscatine Falcons.