Columbus East High School

The Columbus East Olympian baseball team opened their regular season at home against the Whiteland Warriors on a crisp early spring evening. With temperatures in the high 50s and the sun shining, it was a picturesque setting for the start of the season. However, the game itself proved to be a tough challenge for the Olympians, as they fell to the Warriors 8-2. Whiteland, a veteran squad featuring 12 seniors, took control early, plating a run in both the first and third innings to establish a 2-0 lead. Columbus East responded in the bottom of the third, cutting the deficit to 2-1. However, the Warriors steadily pulled away, adding six runs over the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. The Olympians managed just one additional run in the fifth and were unable to mount a rally in the seventh, taking their first loss of the season. Pitching struggles plagued Columbus East, as the staff issued eight walks and allowed eight hits, making each free pass even more costly. Defensive miscues compounded the issues, with the Olympians committing five errors while also allowing Whiteland to steal five bases. These factors combined to keep Columbus East playing from behind all night. Offensively, JD Rotert reached base three times via walks and scored a run. Jackson Watkins contributed a single, a triple, and an RBI, while Logan Warren added a single and an RBI. Marcus Wilkinson also worked a walk. Unfortunately for the Olympians, the bottom five hitters in the lineup struggled, reaching base just once and failing to record a hit. Looking ahead, the Olympians have a pair of games scheduled for later in the week. On Friday, they are set to travel to Corydon Central for a 5:30 p.m. matchup, before returning home Saturday morning at 11 a.m. to face Decatur Central. However, the forecast calls for unfavorable weather conditions from Thursday through Sunday, which could make it difficult to get the games in as planned. Columbus East will look to bounce back and clean up their mistakes as they move forward in the young season.