Cole Gilley was prepared to take the mound again in the top of the seventh inning to finish off a shutout of Bloomington North, but when Columbus East scored its 10th run in the bottom of the sixth to end the game, he wasn’t disappointed.
Gilley threw a three-hitter and knocked in four runs at the plate to lead the Class 4A No. 4 Olympians to a 10-0 victory.
“When we hit the ball and put up runs, it’s a lot easier as a pitcher,” Gilley said. “When the offense scores, there’s not as much pressure on you. It’s 10 times better when we’re scoring runs.”
The junior right-hander was making his second pitching appearance since injuring his left shoulder while playing third base in a loss to Columbus North two weeks ago. He pitched eight-plus innings in a loss to Floyd Central in last week’s Hoosier Hills Conference Tournament while wearing a brace on his left shoulder.
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Wednesday, Gilley played without the brace.
“Coming back, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel with my shoulder tonight, but it felt really good,” Gilley said. “Hopefully, it just keeps improving, and I can keep helping my team win.”
East (17-4) gave Gilley all the runs he would need when it took advantage of two Cougar errors to score twice in the second. Nash Murphy walked, went to second on a passed ball, took third on a wild pitch and scored when Gilley reached on an error. Courtesy runner Jose Martinez then stole second and scored on a two-out single by Jonah Wichman.
The Olympians then broke it open with a seven-run second. Julian Greenwell was hit by a pitch, Parker Harrison walked and Murphy singled to load the bases. Gilley then cleared the bases with a three-run double and scored when T.J. Barkhimer reached on an error. With two out, Wichman walked and Dalton Back followed with a three-run homer to straightway center to make it 9-0.
Gilley allowed hits to the first two Bloomington North batters in the fourth, and after a walk, the Cougars had the bases loaded and nobody out. But Gilley induced back-to-back fly outs to Greenwell in right, the second of which he threw to first to double off a runner.
Then in the fifth, Gilley again allowed a leadoff single. But then Murphy snared a line drive at first and again doubled off the runner.
“(Gilley) did a nice job,” East coach Jon Gratz said. “He may not have had his best stuff today, command-wise. We made some nice plays defensively. I’m very happy with how our defense played tonight and very happy with Cole.”
Back and Murphy each finished 2 for 3. East did not commit an error defensively.
“Tonight, the defense was playing really well,” Gilley said. “Offense is hitting the ball. I think it’s just going to keep carrying over into the sectional.”
The Olympians and Cougars could face off again in the sectional semifinals on May 24 at East Central. Bloomington North plays Bloomington South, and East faces Shelbyville in the first round on Wednesday.
“We have to get by Shelbyville,” Gratz said. “We’re going one game at a time right now, so we’re worried about Franklin (today).”
