Columbus East High School

The Columbus East Olympians built a cushion late and then had just enough to finish the job Tuesday night, knocking off Silver Creek 8-7 in a back-and-forth contest. After falling behind early, the Olympians flipped the game in the third inning with a five-run surge. Logun Rager delivered the biggest swing of the night, ripping a bases-clearing triple to drive in three runs and put East in front. Rager finished 2-for-4 with three RBI to pace the offense. East totaled nine hits on the evening, with several key contributors throughout the lineup. Ryker Stott helped his own cause at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI while also scoring a run. Emmett Harden continued his strong play with a 2-for-4 performance and two runs scored, while also doubling. JD Rotert reached base three times, scoring twice and adding a double, and Kaden Arnholt made the most of his opportunities with a hit, two RBI, and two walks. Ridge Koester added a hit, drew a walk, and crossed the plate twice as the Olympians consistently found ways to manufacture runs. On the mound, Stott earned the win, working five innings while allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits. He struck out four and worked through five walks to keep East within striking distance early. Parker Jones handled the final two innings, giving up four runs—none earned—while striking out two to secure the victory. East continued to add insurance down the stretch, pushing across single runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to build an 8-2 lead. That cushion proved critical as Silver Creek rallied late, taking advantage of a pair of errors and a home run to close within one before the Olympians shut the door. Despite three defensive miscues, East’s timely hitting and balanced offensive attack proved to be the difference. The Olympians (8 runs on 9 hits) will look to carry that momentum into their next matchup as they travel to Franklin Community on Thursday, April 23rd. First pitch: 6 p.m.