Columbus East High School

COLUMBUS EAST - The Columbus East Olympians battled throughout Monday evening at Olympian Field, but a three-run fifth inning by the Beech Grove Hornets proved to be the difference in a 5-1 setback. Columbus East collected seven hits on the night and showed flashes offensively, but the Olympians were unable to capitalize on several scoring opportunities, leaving nine runners on base. JD Rotert paced the East offense with a strong night at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with a double and the Olympians’ lone RBI. His RBI double in the bottom of the fourth inning brought home Logun Rager and trimmed the Beech Grove lead to 2-1. Rager also turned in a solid performance, going 1-for-3 while scoring East’s only run and swiping a base. Bige Asher, Kaden Arnholt, Emmett Harden, and Jacob Huffman each added hits for the Olympians, with Huffman ripping a sixth-inning double to right field. East threatened to climb back into the contest in the fifth inning after Harden and Asher opened the frame with back-to-back singles and Rager was later hit by a pitch to load the bases. However, Beech Grove pitcher Gage Boshears recorded a key strikeout and induced a pop out to end the threat. The Olympians also mounted pressure in the sixth inning when Huffman doubled and Ridge Koester drew a walk, but again the Hornets escaped without allowing a run. On the mound, Tanner Jewell worked the first four innings for East, striking out two. Arnholt provided a strong relief appearance, tossing two innings while allowing just one hit and striking out three. Peyton Asher closed the game with a scoreless seventh inning, recording two strikeouts. Defensively, the Olympians turned in several solid plays behind their pitching staff. Ethan Harden was involved in multiple ground-ball outs from his shortstop position, while Asher handled several plays cleanly at first base. Columbus East has to rebound quickly as they make the quick trip to northern Bartholomew County to face the Hauser Jets tonight, May 12th. First pitch: 5:30 p.m.