Harrells Christian Academy closed out a busy stretch on a high note Wednesday, pulling away late for an 8-3 win over West Columbus in the third-place game of the Jimmy Raynor Easter Tournament.
The Crusaders, logging in 10 hits as a team, used a steady approach at the plate and a strong outing on the mound to break open a tie game in the sixth inning, turning a tight contest into a comfortable victory heading into the spring break pause.
Drake Smith got the start for Harrells and set the tone early, working through four innings while limiting damage despite issuing several walks. West Columbus managed to stay within striking distance, eventually tying the game at 3-3 in the fourth inning.
From there, freshman Avery Hall stepped in and delivered a key performance out of the bullpen.
Hall shut the door on any momentum, retiring the Vikings in order during a pivotal fifth inning to keep the game level and give the Crusaders a chance to respond.
That opportunity came in the sixth.
With two outs and the game still tied, Jesse Smith came through with a clutch hit to bring Noah Tanner across the plate, giving Harrells a 4-3 advantage. Moments later, Reid Strickland added to the surge, driving in Drake Smith on a play that forced an error from West Columbus, stretching the lead to 5-3.
The Crusaders continued to apply pressure.
With the bases loaded, Jesse Smith scored on a walk issued by West Columbus reliever Ethan Matheson, and Harrells carried a 6-3 edge into the late innings. The Vikings threatened in the bottom half of the sixth, but Hall worked around a base runner to preserve the lead.
Harrells added two more insurance runs in the seventh to seal the outcome.
At the plate, Jesse Smith led the way with a 3-for-5 performance, including three RBIs and a double. Drake Smith added two hits and scored three runs, while Avery Hall chipped in with two hits. Strickland finished with three RBIs, helping anchor a lineup that produced 10 hits and capitalized on key late opportunities.
On the mound, Drake Smith struck out seven across four innings, allowing three runs while working through traffic. Hall followed with three strong innings of relief, allowing just one hit and striking out five to close things out.
The win capped a demanding week for Harrells, which played three games in three days and four games across a seven-day span.
After the game, head coach Joshua Rackley reflected on both the victory and the bigger picture of his team’s performance throughout the tournament.
“Well, you always want to end a tournament like that with a win, especially when you’re about to go into a break,” Rackley explained. “We’ve played four games in almost seven days, so they need a much-needed rest, but they were already asking about practice. I told them to take the week, and we’ll be back at it Monday. But very happy and grateful for the chance to play in that game.”
Rackley emphasized just how narrow the margin has been for his group this season.
“I told them, we are five total runs from being a 12-2 team. That’s the difference,” he noted.
That closeness, he believes, is fueling the team’s motivation.
“That’s it right there. This team has eight seniors, and they know what we’ve got to get better at. We’ve got about two spots in our lineup that if we can get them to hit a little bit better and more consistently, we can strike a few more runs. We’ve left so many runners on base, and that’s baseball. But they know there’s areas we’ve got to improve.”
Rackley also pointed to defensive consistency as another key factor.
“Defensively, we have one or two errors a game, and those can open up a big inning for any team. Like I said, five runs is the difference between being 9-5 and 12-2. That’s a big difference.”
Despite those areas for growth, Rackley praised the leadership and chemistry within his roster.
“They are big on accountability,” he said. “They’re seniors, but they’re still growing as young men. I had one senior earlier in the week who wasn’t in the spot he thought he’d be in, and I told him before the Clinton game, I need something from you. He said, ‘I got you, coach.’ That’s what you want. Go be a kid, but when the moment comes, lead by example.”
Ultimately, Rackley believes the biggest takeaway from the tournament is his team’s hunger and unity.
“We’re hungry. This is a team that loves to play ball. It’s a great group. We’ve got seniors, juniors, sophomores, and a lot of freshmen, and they all get along. When you’ve got that kind of group, it makes it fun. And that’s what this team is — just a fun group of guys.”
Harrells will now take a short break before returning to action next week, carrying momentum from a strong finish and a third-place showing into the next stretch of the season.