The Columbus East softball team found itself in the same territory it has been for much of the season.
Getting off to a slow start.
New Albany was able to take advantage, putting up three quick runs in the first inning while capitalizing on the mistakes on the way to handing the Olympians a 7-1 loss.
It could have been a totally different game were it not for the fielding miscues that the Olympians had during the game.
“I told the girls after the game that if we take away an inning or two, we would be in it,” East coach Rusty Brummett said. “We just have to find a way to be ready in the first or second inning.”
Once the Olympians finally settled down, the damage had been done, but Brummett did have some positives to take away from the loss.
“(Ashley) Sweet came around today and had a good game and Kendra (Pastrick) had a nice game at shortstop,” he said.
“I saw some good things from Hayley Smalley on the mound, too. I’m proud of the girls at this point, but now they have to figure out what they can do individually to get better.”
Kaitlin Wagner had a good night at the plate. She led the first inning off with a double but was unable to score. She also added a single later in the game.
East got its run in the fourth inning when Smalley singled and a Sweet single later scored pinch runner Makenzie Brown to make it 6-1.
Ball State commit Kennedy Wynn did a lot of the damage for the New Albany offense as she ended the night with two hits, including a double, knocking in two runs and also scoring a run.
Wynn also made great plays defensively at third base and prevented a lot of Olympian singles.
East will have to put this game behind them, as it hosts Madison at 5:30 p.m. today. The schedule does not lighten up after that. The Olympians will be playing in the Hoosier Hills Conference tournament that starts Monday.
“We have to keep staying positive and not let anything get us down,” East senior Elyse Babb said. “It is the first or second inning where we give up a lot, but we just keep telling each other that the game isn’t over yet and we can come back.”
