Eagles Battle in Extras, Early Lead Slips Away in Doubleheader with TMP
April 7, 2026
The Colby High School baseball team hosted Hays-TMP on April 7 at Casey Quagliano Field for a doubleheader that featured a tightly contested opener and a momentum-shifting second game.
Game one turned into a marathon, with both teams locked in a pitcher’s duel early before extra innings ultimately favored the Monarchs in a 10-inning decision.
Colby struck first in the bottom of the third inning when Conner Surmeier reached on a single and later scored on an RBI single from Braxton Withington to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. That advantage held for much of the game behind a strong outing on the mound from Withington, who worked seven innings, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out seven.
The Monarchs finally broke through in the top of the seventh, capitalizing on an error and a two-out RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. From there, both teams had chances but were unable to push across a run through the eighth and ninth innings.
Colby threatened in the bottom of the ninth when Keegan Glassman singled and advanced into scoring position, but the Eagles were unable to deliver the walk-off hit. That missed opportunity proved costly.
In the top of the 10th inning, Hays-TMP erupted offensively. A leadoff single set the tone, and a series of hits, walks, and defensive miscues quickly snowballed into a big inning for the Monarchs. TMP plated nine runs in the frame, turning a 1-1 tie into a commanding 10-1 lead.
Colby was unable to respond in the bottom half, ending a game that had been tightly contested for nine innings.
Surmeier led the Eagles offensively in game one with two hits and a run scored, while Withington added a hit and the team’s lone RBI. Surmeier and Dallas Kliensorge also saw time in relief, combining for multiple strikeouts but running into trouble during the decisive 10th inning.
Game two followed a different script early, as Colby’s offense came alive in the third inning. The Eagles strung together multiple hits, highlighted by RBI singles from Glassman and Kasen Stramel, to build a 5-0 lead.
Glassman was a key contributor in the second game, finishing with two hits, two RBIs, and a run scored, while Stramel added an RBI knock. Colby’s aggressive approach at the plate and ability to string together quality at-bats put immediate pressure on the Monarchs.
However, momentum shifted in the middle innings. Hays-TMP responded with a three-run fourth inning and then capitalized on defensive miscues in the fifth to tie the game at 5-5. Errors proved costly for Colby, allowing the Monarchs to extend innings and create scoring opportunities.
The Monarchs took their first lead in the sixth inning and then broke the game open in the seventh. A combination of extra-base hits and continued pressure at the plate led to a multi-run inning that pushed the lead out of reach.
Colby was unable to generate a late rally, dropping the second game after holding an early advantage.
Cobin Curry started on the mound for the Eagles in game two, working four innings while allowing seven hits and four runs.
Despite the losses, Colby showed flashes of strong play throughout the doubleheader. The Eagles received solid pitching performances early in both games and demonstrated their ability to generate offense in key moments. However, defensive lapses and one big inning in each game ultimately proved to be the difference.
Colby will look to clean up those mistakes and build on their early-game execution as they continue their season.