The Columbus Wildcats will take on the softball playoffs for the first time in 2023 tonight when they visit West Liberty in the Class 3A Region 8 quarterfinals. After starting this season 1-3, Columbus won eight of its next 10 games. Unfortunately, the Wildcats will be looking snap out of a late-season funk, having lost four of their last five to drop to 11-9.

Leading the way for the Wildcats has been sophomore Lily Coil. Her astonishing .625 batting average is best in Class 3A and fourth in the state across all classes. Coil has also come up with seven doubles, five triples, three home runs, 32 runs scored, 24 runs batted in and 23 stolen bases. The sophomore is also Columbus’ top pitcher, posting a 2.96 earned-run average in over 47 innings of work.

Eighth-grader Ellie Sanders has also had a strong debut season with the bat, hitting .421 and scoring 24 runs. The Wildcats will try to knock off a West Liberty team that is 19-11 this season and has won their three previous meetings with Columbus. First pitch tonight is set for 7 o’clock.