Columbus Christian Crusaders Look to End Skid, Face High-Scoring Indiana School for the Deaf Thursday

The Columbus Christian Varsity Crusaders are back in action Thursday, aiming to notch their first win of the season as they host Indiana School for the Deaf Varsity Baseball. After a tough 0-4 start, the Crusaders will need a bounce-back effort to slow down an Orioles offense averaging 11 runs per game.

Columbus Christian enters the matchup averaging 15.5 runs allowed per contest, a number they’ll need to clamp down on to keep pace. Despite the early struggles, there have been bright spots. Right fielder Anderson Glasser has been a spark at the plate, sporting a team-best 1.417 OPS, bolstered by a .667 on-base percentage and a .750 slugging clip. Behind the dish, catcher Canon Carr leads the team with 19 total fielding chances.

On the mound, Jaxxon Games has logged the most innings for Columbus Christian, trying to stabilize a pitching staff still finding its rhythm.

Meanwhile, Indiana School for the Deaf comes in at 1-2 overall and features one of Class A’s top offensive threats in Zayden MacMonagle. The power hitter boasts a blistering 1.633 OPS, reaching base at an .833 clip and slugging .800 through the early part of the season.

The Orioles will also lean on veteran arms Thursday, including staff ace Ansar Mia-Khil, who leads the team with 9.2 innings pitched. Behind the plate, Brent Eicher has been a steady presence, tallying 19 fielding chances and anchoring the defense as the starting catcher.

Both teams are looking to rebound from recent blowout losses—Columbus Christian fell 15-1 to Purdue Broad Ripple, while Indiana School for the Deaf was handled 18-1 by Irvington Preparatory Academy. The Thursday night showdown represents a key opportunity for each program to reset the tone heading into the back half of the season.