Eagles Battle Hard in Home Opener, Fall Twice to Russell
April 2, 2026
The Colby High School baseball team opened its home slate April 2 with a hard-fought doubleheader against Russell, dropping both games in contests that showcased strong pitching, defensive execution, and flashes of offensive production.
Game one turned into a pitcher’s duel that stretched deep into extra innings, with both teams struggling to find consistent offense against dominant arms. Colby’s Braxton Withington delivered one of the most impressive outings of the young season, throwing seven innings while allowing just two hits and striking out an eye-popping 16 batters. His command on the mound kept Russell off balance throughout, repeatedly working out of potential trouble and setting the tone for a defensive battle.
Despite Withington’s performance, runs were at a premium. Colby’s defense matched the intensity early, with clean fielding and timely outs limiting Russell opportunities. The Eagles broke through late, tying the game in the eighth inning when Conner Surmeier reached on a single and later scored on a clutch RBI knock from Reid Ryan, energizing the home crowd and extending the contest.
Surmeier led the offensive effort in game one, finishing with two hits and consistently putting the ball in play in key moments. Ryan added two hits and the team’s lone RBI, while Keegan Glassman and Cobin Curry contributed hits of their own to keep innings alive. Kasen Stramel also chipped in with a double that helped spark one of Colby’s best scoring chances.
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Russell ultimately capitalized in the ninth inning, pushing across two runs to secure a 3-1 victory. Colby threatened in the bottom half, putting runners on base, but couldn’t deliver the final hit needed to extend the game.
Game two proved more challenging early, as Russell jumped out to a quick lead in the opening inning and never fully relinquished control. Still, the Eagles showed resilience, battling back multiple times and continuing to produce offensively.
Surmeier again stood out as the top performer of the day, leading Colby at the plate in game two with one hit and three RBIs. His timely hitting helped fuel a mid-game rally and kept the Eagles within striking distance.
Talon Wark added a strong performance with two hits, a run scored, and an RBI, while Glassman continued his productive day with two hits, a run, and an RBI. Withington also contributed offensively with two hits and a run scored, and Cobin Sherman added a hit and crossed the plate as part of Colby’s late push.
On the mound, Surmeier started game two and recorded six strikeouts over 2.2 innings. Reid Ryan and Bretton Thomas followed in relief, combining for seven additional strikeouts and working through several tough innings against a persistent Russell lineup.
Colby mounted a late rally in the final inning, scoring three runs and putting pressure on Russell, but ultimately fell short in a 10-6 final.
Despite the sweep, the Eagles showed plenty of promise in their home opener. Dominant pitching in game one, highlighted by Withington’s 16-strikeout performance, and consistent offensive contributions throughout the lineup provided a strong foundation moving forward as Colby continues its early-season schedule.
Next, the Eagles will host Hays-TMP on Tuesday at Young Memorial Park beginning at 4pm.