Columbus North High School

April 29, 2023 - The top-ranked (MaxPreps) Columbus North softball team won its first two games at the Franklin Central Invitational before the final game was canceled due to lightning. The Dogs are now 15-1-1. In game one, North beat McCutcheon 11-3. The Mavericks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the Bull Dogs dominated the rest of the way, scoring eleven unanswered runs. Payton Morris pounded a homerun and Maddi Rutan had a pair of doubles. Rutan threw all seven innings, earning the victory. She allowed six hits and struck out thirteen while walking only one. Kirsten Danford and Miley McClellan each had three of the Bull Dogs’ 15 hits for the game. The Bull Dogs then knocked off Franklin Community in game two 9-3. Payton Morris threw all seven innings, giving up seven hits, walking four, and striking out five. Kaylee Cowan blasted a homerun as one of her two hits to lead North’s offensive attack. Game three of the Saturday tripleheader got started against Franklin Central, but lighting forced the game to be canceled. The Dogs will host Greenwood on Thursday, May 4 at 6:00 pm and will welcome area youth softball players as part of Youth Night. All youth players who wear their game jerseys to the game will be admitted free to the game. Photo: Kirsten Danford had four RBI for the day in helping the Bull Dogs win both games of the Franklin Central Invitational on Saturday (April 29). The Dogs are now 15-1-1 on the season.