Columbus East High School

OLYMPIAN FIELD - The Columbus East Olympians are starting to find their rhythm—and they’re doing it the right way. Behind a strong outing on the mound from Kaden Arnholt and timely execution in the field, the Olympians secured their second straight Hoosier Hills Conference win Thursday night with a hard-fought 3-2 victory. The win marks Columbus East’s third in their last four games, and momentum is clearly building. Runs were at a premium all night, but the Olympians made theirs count in the third inning. With traffic on the bases, JD Rotert delivered the biggest swing of the night, lining a single that brought home two runs. Later in the inning, Landyn Jewell added to the lead by driving in a run on a double-play ball, giving Columbus East a 3-0 advantage they would not relinquish. That cushion was enough for Arnholt, who turned in a composed and efficient performance on the mound. The right-hander went six innings, allowing just three hits and two runs—only one earned—while striking out four and walking three to earn the win. But the tone was set early by a defense that refused to give away outs. Third baseman Jacob Huffman chased down a foul ball deep into foul territory, making a tough grab near the fence to steal an early out. Moments later, Bige Asher matched that effort on the opposite side of the diamond, tracking a high pop deep into first base territory and securing it before it could drop. In the outfield, Paxton Thompson delivered one of the night’s biggest highlights, laying out for a diving catch in right field to take away a potential hit and keep Jennings County off the board. When the Panthers did threaten later in the game, the Olympian defense continued to answer. Asher remained steady at first, with Landyn Jewell behind the plate, Thompson, and Huffman stayed active and reliable, helping limit damage and preserve the lead. Tanner Jewell came on in relief and shut the door in the seventh, tossing a clean inning with one strikeout to earn the save and secure the conference victory. Offensively, Columbus East made the most of limited opportunities, finishing with three hits. Rotert led the way with a 1-for-3 night and a team-high RBI, while Emmett Harden and Logun Rager each added a hit. Rager also showcased aggressiveness on the basepaths, swiping a bag and scoring a run. It wasn’t flashy—but it was winning baseball. Strong pitching, clean defense, and timely hitting continue to be the formula as the Olympians stack conference wins. Columbus East now turns its attention to the next challenge, hitting the road for another Hoosier Hills Conference matchup at Bloomington South. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Friday night.