Father McGivney baseball beats Columbia behind first pitching start

Reed allowed four hits over six scoreless innings in his first start on the mound.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 12:20am

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A fragmented, geometric painting in the style of Pablo Picasso, depicting the motion and energy of a baseball game through overlapping planes of vibrant colors representing the uniforms of the two teams.A cubist-inspired illustration captures the dynamic action of a high school baseball game between the Father McGivney Griffins and Columbia Eagles.Columbia Today

Grant Reed, the Father McGivney Griffins' catcher, moved out from behind the plate and dazzled in his first pitching start, scattering four hits over six scoreless innings and striking out four in a 2-0 win over the Columbia Eagles to complete the Pleasant Plains Showcase on April 11.

Why it matters

Reed's strong pitching performance on the mound is a positive development for the Griffins, who have now won eight straight games and are undefeated in April. The win over Columbia also keeps the Griffins in a good position as they continue their busy schedule with upcoming games against Southwestern, Mount Vernon, Gibault, and Alton.

The details

Reed pounded the strike zone against the Eagles, throwing 53 of his 68 pitches for strikes. Paddy Martin earned the save, getting a lineout and groundout to get out of a first-and-second jam in the seventh. The Griffins scored the only two runs they needed in the third inning, with Omar Avalos opening the scoring with a one-out RBI double and Isaac Wendler adding an RBI single.

  • On April 11, Reed made his first pitching start for the Griffins.
  • The Griffins' last loss came against Harvest Westminster on March 27.

The players

Grant Reed

The Father McGivney Griffins' catcher, who moved out from behind the plate and dazzled in his first pitching start.

Paddy Martin

The Father McGivney Griffins' relief pitcher, who earned the save in the game against Columbia.

Omar Avalos

A Father McGivney Griffins player, who opened the scoring with a one-out RBI double in the third inning.

Isaac Wendler

A Father McGivney Griffins player, who went 2 for 3 with an RBI single in the third inning.

Columbia Eagles

The opposing team that lost 2-0 to the Father McGivney Griffins.

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What’s next

The Griffins will continue their busy schedule with upcoming games against Southwestern, Mount Vernon, Gibault, and Alton.

The takeaway

Reed's strong pitching performance on the mound is a positive development for the Griffins, who have now won eight straight games and are undefeated in April. The win over Columbia keeps the Griffins in a good position as they continue their busy schedule.