Columbus East High School

The Olympian softball program hosted the 2024 IHSAA Sectional with the hopes that homefield advantage might help the Olympians make a charge for a Sectional championship. Unfortunately for the Olympians, the Grizzly Cubs of Franklin Community ended that chance, winning a close contest, 5-3, over the Olympians. The Olympians briefly held the lead, 2-1, after the top of the 3rd inning, but Franklin scored two runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning, making the score 3-2 in favor of Franklin. Franklin added a run in the bottom of the 4th, making it 4-2, but the Olympians scored a run in the top of the 5th, closing the gap 4-3 in favor of the Grizzly Bears. Franklin was able to add an insurance run in the bottom of the bottom of the 5th, making the score 5-3 in favor of Franklin. Neither team scored in the 6th. The O' had a chance - The O's started the top of the 7th inning with two quick outs, but the O's third batter in the inning, senior Savannah Sullivan, was hit by a pitch, putting her on first base. Next up was freshman Baleigh Fish, who was 2-2 on the evening and the O's leading homerun hitter. Franklin decided to intentionally walk Fish, to put the winning run at the plate. The next batter, O's Addy Ross, who had no strike outs on the year and was the O's leading contact hitter, had a good swing, but just got under it a tad, popping it up to the third basemen and ending the O's rally and the game, 5-3 in favor of Franklin Community. Pitching for the O's: The O's received another strong performance, by senior pitcher, Hermione Robinson. Robinson threw 93 pitches, with 70 of those pitches being strikes. She allowed 7 hits, 4 earned runs, 1 BB, and 7 K's. The O's will miss her steady pitching next year! Batting for the O's: Watkins: 2-4 Sullivan: 2-3 Fish: 2-2, RBI, 2 BB Ross: RBI Foster: BB J. Hampton: BB Thank you Seniors for an excellent season. Good luck in your future endeavors.