On another cold evening, Columbus East was led by a strong pitching performance and solid defense to hold off Franklin 5-3 to earn back-to-back victories.
The Olympians got on the board in the bottom of the first, when leadoff hitter Madyson Foster got on base with a single. After stealing second, Foster was driven in by a single by Brooke Valles.
With one out in the second, Claudia Sims and Kaitlin Brummett got on base with consecutive singles. Foster stepped up to the plate next and sent a rocket into the outfield, bringing in Sims and Brummett. With two on following a walk, Valles brought in both runners with a double of her own, extending the East lead to 5-1.
Valles, who pitched a complete game with eight strikeouts while giving up only six hits, finished 2 for 3 with three RBIs.
“Brooke is two-dimensional,” East coach Rusty Brummett said. “She does a great job for us. Her hitting has come around. I know sometimes she is pretty hard on herself. She thinks she should get a hit every time.”
Neither team was able to get the bats going the next three innings, with each pitcher facing no more than four batters in an inning. After the Olympians (2-2) were retired in the bottom of the sixth, Valles was able to retire three batters in a row to seal the victory.
Foster finished 2 for 4 with two RBIs for East. Jenna Robbins and Sims each went 2 for 3.
“I was really pleased. (Monday) night we didn’t have our best effort in the batters box,” Rusty Brummett said. “And tonight, we came back and focused. But even our outs were solid. The approach in the batter’s box was much better tonight ,and I really got to tell you the last couple nights, we have faced some really good teams and I’m really pleased with the effort we have had.”
