Columbus North High School

May 28, 2026 - It’s the goal of every coach to have their team playing their best at the end of the season. Head baseball coach Mike Bodart must certainly feel good about the performance of his team. After an 8-0 victory over Whiteland in the quarterfinals of the Columbus North baseball sectional, the Dogs have now won eight of their last ten games, improving their record to 17-11 after a 3-5 start to the season. Franko Ortega got the start on the mound for North and pitched six outstanding innings, allowing no runs on just three hits. Ortega walked just two and struck out eleven Warriors in his outing. Dillon Long came on in relief to start the seventh inning and allowed a pair of hits, but no runs, while striking out two. Macario Mendez, Cade Finke, and Jack Whaley each had two hits for the Dogs, including a two-run home run by Whaley in the third inning to break a scoreless tie. Whaley had three RBI and Finke two for the Dogs. North will face Franklin Community (18-4) in the second game of the sectional semifinal round on Friday, May 29. Columbus East and East Central will square off in the early game, beginning at 6:00, with the two winners meeting for the sectional championship on Monday, June 1.