Time-Out: Columbus Clingstones Shine in Historic Opener, Hawks and Blue Devils Roll

Opening night in Columbus was nothing short of historic as the city ushered in a new era of baseball. The Columbus Clingstones, the Braves' Double-A affiliate, made their long-anticipated debut at the newly renovated Synovus Park on April 15. With a $50 million facelift breathing fresh life into the old Golden Park, the atmosphere was electric. A sold-out crowd packed the stands, buzzing with anticipation and pride for their new hometown heroes.

The Clingstones delivered in every way, downing the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 3-0 in a dominant performance that set the tone for their six-game homestand. Fans were treated to more than just baseball: the ballpark's upgraded amenities featured everything from gourmet burgers at Bullpen Burger Co. to peach-flavored funnel cakes at the home side advantage stand. With fireworks scheduled every Friday night home game, the energy around the Clingstones isn’t fading anytime soon.

Meanwhile, local high school baseball continued its own stretch of drama and dominance. The Hardaway Hawks have made a habit of dominating on the diamond, and April 15 was no exception. They overwhelmed Sumter County with a 16-1 victory, their 13th win this season by 10 or more runs. Hardaway wasted no time in asserting control, showcasing their speed, power and depth up and down the lineup. A'Nazhe Purnell led the way in a two-way performance that had fans buzzing. On the mound, Purnell was rock solid, throwing three innings and giving up just one earned run on three hits. At the plate, he was equally effective scoring two runs, stealing four bases and reaching base in every appearance. He’s now posted at least one stolen base in seven consecutive games.

Dante Hill matched the energy, going 1-for-1 with two runs and two stolen bases. The stats don’t lie—Hardaway is undefeated when Hill snags multiple bags in a game. Kevin Williams added to the highlight reel with a run scored and a pair of steals, also going 1-for-1 at the plate. As a team, Hardaway turned the game into a clinic, finishing with an on-base percentage of .808. That kind of offensive efficiency is becoming a trademark—when their OBP hits .513 or better, they’re 11-2. With the win, the Hawks improved to 15-7 and extended their win streak to three games.

Looking ahead, Hardaway is preparing to host Spencer at 5:30 p.m. on April 18 in what should be an intriguing matchup. The Hawks are red-hot at home, while the Greenwave come in looking to snap a three-game road losing streak.

Speaking of Spencer, the Greenwave found themselves outmatched on April 15 as Columbus cruised to a 13-0 win. This marks the second time the Blue Devils have handled Spencer with ease this season, having also won 16-1 back in March. Curtis McElhaney delivered a gem on the mound, tossing two innings without giving up a hit, run or walk. Columbus remains unbeaten when McElhaney walks two or fewer, now sitting at 15-14 overall.

Maddox Anderson and Michael Fox fueled the offense, with Anderson going 1-for-2 with a run, and Fox wreaking havoc on the bases with three stolen bags. Columbus racked up 11 hits in the game and are now 3-0 when reaching that mark.

Elsewhere in the region, St. Anne-Pacelli’s four-game win streak came to a halt with a 10-5 loss to First Presbyterian Day. While the Vikings couldn’t overcome their opponents this time around, Billy Smith was a bright spot—tossing 1.2 innings without allowing a hit or earned run. Smith continues to be a stabilizing presence; the Vikings are 2-1 when he allows two hits or fewer.

Connor Zittrauer did his part at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with a solo home run. Despite the setback, St. Anne-Pacelli will regroup for a road matchup against Calvary Christian next Tuesday. They currently sit at 11-12 on the season, while First Presbyterian Day, winners of 16 of their last 17 games, have surged to a 21-3 mark.

On the track, it was another banner week for Shaw’s Ahmaud Nickerson and Jordan’s MarQuale Brown Jr., both named MVPs of the MCSD City Meet after finishing with 36 points each. The Shaw Lady Raiders stole the show with 216.5 total points to win the girls’ team title. Carver’s Jamarcus Davis ran a blistering 11.15 in the 100 meters, while Columbus High’s Gabrielle Harris clocked 12.39 to grab the top spot on the girls’ side.

In soccer news, Columbus High continues to rack up wins and commitments. Senior Ally Lofton signed with ACC powerhouse Boston College, while Brooklyn Adams committed to Truett McConnell. Both athletes will take their talents to the next level and leave behind strong legacies.

And finally, all eyes are on Columbus this weekend as the third annual Coach O Invitational returns to Kinnett Stadium on April 19. The meet will feature elite youth athletes from across eight states, with over 30 teams and hundreds of competitors expected to participate. Among them will be Georgia’s own West Georgia Jets, one of the state’s top youth track programs. To view full entries or learn more, visit CoachO.com.

Whether it’s home runs, highlight reels or high school records, the Tri-City area continues to prove that its athletes are some of the best in the business. Stay locked in—because around here, the action never slows down.