Columbus East High School

The Columbus East Olympian baseball team leaned on a dominant performance from JD Rotert and a game-changing sixth inning to secure a 7-4 victory Saturday morning at the Olympian baseball complex. Rotert was in control on the mound, going the distance while striking out 11. The right-hander scattered four hits and allowed four runs over seven innings, giving the Olympians every chance to stay within reach before the offense took over late. East came out aggressive in the first inning. Bige Asher got things started with an RBI single down the left field line, and Kaden Arnholt followed with a run-scoring double to left to give the Olympians an early 2-0 advantage. After the visitors battled back to tie the game and eventually take a 4-2 lead midway through, the Olympians responded when it mattered most. In the bottom of the sixth, East erupted for five runs on four hits to completely flip the game. Jacob Huffman delivered a key RBI single during the rally, helping spark an inning that turned a deficit into a 7-4 lead. Offensively, the Olympians showed balance throughout the lineup. Huffman, Arnholt, Rotert, Asher, Paxton Thompson, Landyn Jewell, and Ryker Stott each recorded a hit, while six different players drove in runs. East also applied constant pressure on the base paths, racking up eight stolen bases in the game. Rotert led the charge with two steals, while the team’s aggressive approach kept the defense on its heels. Emmett Harden contributed by drawing two walks, part of a patient six-walk performance by the Olympians. With the win, East builds momentum heading into Monday’s road matchup at Brownstown Central, with first pitch scheduled for 5:30 p.m.