Jenna Robbins broke into the Columbus East starting lineup as a sophomore last season and ended up being one of the Olympians’ top hitters.
While Robbins saw a little pitching action last year, she has seed an increased role in the circle as East’s No. 3 pitcher this season. The dual threat is off to a solid start to her junior year for the Olympians, who host crosstown rival Columbus North today.
“Jenna had a real good season last year, most of which was playing first base and batting,” East coach Rusty Brummett said. “This year, her role has expanded to pitching, and she’s come in and pitched really well in a couple of ballgames. She’s still hitting very well. She has some power. She’s having a really good season.”
Robbins’ best game this season came April 2 against Brownstown Central. She went 2 for 4 with two doubles and four RBIs and pitched five scoreless innings in relief to pick up the victory in an 11-6 win, one of only two triumphs for the Olympians this season.
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“The first game that I came in and pitched (against Brownstown), I was hitting my spots really well,” Robbins said. “Then, the game I started against Brown County (an 11-0 loss), I wasn’t starting off so good. I definitely felt better about the first game I pitched than the second game.”
Although she was batting only .261 going into Saturday’s doubleheader against Mt. Vernon, Robbins was tied for the team lead with two doubles, a home run and seven RBIs.
The home run came in a 5-1 loss at Class 3A No. 1 and defending 3A state champion New Palestine.
“So far better than last year, I feel like,” Robbins said of her hitting. “I want to hit like I’ve been hitting and pitch stronger than I have been.”
Robbins, who wants to play softball in college, has been playing the sport since an early age.
“I was in a couple other sports like volleyball and track, and eventually, I had to choose,” Robbins said. “So I just picked the one that I thought would get me somewhere more than the others.”
East will try to snap a seven-game losing streak today when it hosts the Bull Dogs.
“We may not have won all the games we’ve planned on winning, but our team work ethic, it’s all been moving ahead for us like we feel like it should be,” Robbins said.
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Columbus East vs. Columbus North softball
When: 5 p.m. today
Where: Columbus East High School
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