Columbus East High School

Shelbyville H.S. — April 25, 2025 The Columbus East Olympians softball team made the trip north to Shelbyville on Thursday night for a high-energy showdown against the Golden Bears. In a game filled with fireworks on offense from both sides, Shelbyville ultimately edged out Columbus East 12-9 before the game was called after six innings due to inclement weather. The game was declared official after reaching the required number of innings. The Olympians wasted no time setting the tone in the top of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Lola Watkins ripped a single to left, followed by Thaise Jessup's base hit. Moments later, Baleigh Fish launched a two-run homer to center field, giving East an early 2-0 lead. Shelbyville quickly answered back in the bottom half, with Laycock and Stieneker each blasting home runs, propelling the Golden Bears into a 3-2 lead. Columbus East responded with a strong second inning: Jade Hampton, Watkins, Jessup, and Fish all delivered key hits, fueling a three-run frame to put East back ahead, 5-3. However, the Golden Bears refused to go away quietly. They plated five runs in the bottom of the second behind timely hits and patient at-bats, including a two-run double from Garrison and a two-RBI single from Brown, reclaiming the lead 8-5. The back-and-forth continued as Jessup stayed hot at the plate, picking up another RBI single in the fifth. East managed to close the gap to just one run after clutch hitting from Jacque Boroughs and Natasha Armstrong made it a 10-9 ballgame. Shelbyville once again showed resilience in their half of the fifth inning, with Shealer crushing a solo home run and Garrison adding an RBI double to extend the Golden Bears' advantage to 12-9. Despite their best efforts, the Olympians were unable to mount another rally in the sixth inning. As storms rolled in and conditions deteriorated, officials decided to call the game after Shelbyville’s at-bat in the sixth, making the result final. Thaise Jessup had a stellar night at the plate for Columbus East, going 4-for-4 with multiple RBIs and a stolen base, while Baleigh Fish added a home run, several RBIs, and showcased leadership at first base. Lola Watkins contributed three hits of her own, consistently setting the table for the Olympian offense. Although the Olympians fell short, the team showed incredible fight and offensive firepower in a game that saw plenty of momentum swings. Columbus East will look to build on their offensive success when they return to action today (Saturday 4/26) @ Franklin Community H.S.