Columbus North Softball Wins Two at Castle Invitational

Bull Dogs bounce back with extra-inning victory and blowout win on opening day of tournament.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:53am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a softball game, with overlapping planes of red, blue, and yellow shapes representing the players, field, and action.The Columbus North softball team's resilience and versatility are on full display in their opening day performance at the Castle Invitational tournament.Columbus Today

The Columbus North softball team responded to early adversity with two wins on the opening day of the Castle Invitational tournament. In the first game, the Bull Dogs battled through extra innings to earn a 6-5 victory over Monrovia, with Vada Reigle delivering the game-winning hit. In the second game, North took control early and cruised to a 14-3 win over North Posey in five innings, led by strong offensive performances from Morgan Jarvis, Chesney Rutan, Lola Thompson, and Lyla Deweese.

Why it matters

The two wins show the resilience and versatility of the Columbus North softball team, which was able to win in different ways - grinding out a close extra-inning game and then dominating an opponent with a powerful offensive display. This performance at the Castle Invitational suggests the Bull Dogs have the potential to be a force to be reckoned with this season.

The details

In the first game against Monrovia, North trailed late but scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game and force extra innings. Vada Reigle then delivered the game-winning RBI single in the eighth inning to give the Bull Dogs the 6-5 victory. Bailee Scruggs and Payton Morris combined on the mound to hold Monrovia in check. In the second game, North jumped out to an early lead and cruised to a 14-3 win over North Posey in five innings. Morgan Jarvis led the offensive onslaught with a 3-for-4 performance, while Chesney Rutan, Lola Thompson, and Lyla Deweese also had multiple hits. Scruggs and Morris combined on a one-hitter to shut down North Posey.

  • The Castle Invitational took place on Friday, April 13, 2026.
  • The first game against Monrovia went into extra innings.

The players

Vada Reigle

A Columbus North softball player who delivered the game-winning hit in the extra-inning victory over Monrovia.

Bailee Scruggs

A Columbus North softball pitcher who combined with Payton Morris to hold Monrovia in check in the first game.

Payton Morris

A Columbus North softball pitcher who combined with Bailee Scruggs to hold Monrovia in check in the first game, and also combined with Scruggs on a one-hitter in the second game against North Posey.

Morgan Jarvis

A Columbus North softball player who led the offensive surge in the 14-3 win over North Posey, going 3-for-4 at the plate.

Chesney Rutan

A Columbus North softball player who had a 2-for-3 performance that included a triple and two RBIs in the win over North Posey.

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What they’re saying

“The team showed a lot of resilience and fight to battle back and win that first game. That's the kind of toughness we need to see all season long.”

— Jeremy Giggy, Sports Director, White River Broadcasting

What’s next

The Columbus North softball team will continue play in the Castle Invitational on Saturday, April 14, 2026.

The takeaway

Columbus North's softball team demonstrated its ability to win in different ways - grinding out a close extra-inning victory and then dominating an opponent with a powerful offensive display. This versatility and resilience suggests the Bull Dogs have the potential to be a top contender this season.