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Columbia head coach Chris Howard watches the action against Pine Forest in the Region 1-5A quarterfinals on May 9. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)
If the Columbia Tigers are going to win another regional title, they’re going to have to do it without their head coach.
Chris Howard is being held out of Tuesday’s Region 1-5A championship against Clay following his ejection during Saturday’s 8-4 win against Lincoln in the regional semifinals. No suspension has been handed down yet by the FHSAA, but Columbia athletic director Steve Faulkner said Monday the school is preemptively sitting Howard out as they await word from the FHSAA, which Faulkner expects to happen Tuesday.
Faulkner says Howard is likely facing at least a two-game suspension.
“Chris will preemptively start his suspension that we know is a minimum of two games starting tomorrow night,” Faulkner said.
Howard was ejected in the fourth inning Saturday for arguing balls and strikes with the home plate umpire. The umpire has already submitted his report to the FHSAA and Columbia was responding Monday afternoon with its version of the ejection.
The FHSAA will then review both responses and hand out the punishment it deems necessary, which could result in longer than a two-game suspension. Faulkner expects that to happen Tuesday.
“Chris is owning it and knows he screwed up, so we’ll go from there and see what happens,” Faulkner said.
Columbia trailed Lincoln 4-0 when Howard took objection to a called strike on a pitch to Josh Fernald that appeared to be low and outside the zone. Howard said postgame he felt his starting pitcher, Grant Bowers, wasn’t getting the same calls while also admitting he was trying to fire up his team.
Howard said Monday he’s ready to accept whatever punishment gets handed down.
“It’s tough but I knew that walking up there,” Howard said. “I felt maybe I could get a break, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to work out that way. But we’ll be fine.”
With Howard sidelined, assistant coach Joey Edge will be in charge. Columbia rallied behind Edge with eight unanswered runs, including six in the seventh inning, to beat Lincoln 8-4 on Saturday.
The contest ended in dramatic fashion, with Josh Fernald hitting a walk-off grand slam. Howard has full confidence in his staff and players that they can deliver without him.
Tuesday's game at Clay is set for a 7 p.m. start.
“They’re very capable,” Howard said. “We’ll be just fine.”