BLOOMINGTON — Columbus East ran into a buzzsaw Thursday night in the second semifinal sectional game at Bloomington South.
Bloomington North ace Deb Jones was nearly unhittable in shutting out East and ending its season. Jones pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only four hits — three of which were in the final inning — while striking out nine, leading the Cougars to a 7-0 victory and a berth in the sectional championship game.
“She’s the best pitcher we have faced this year,” East coach Rusty Brummett said. She throws in the low 60s and has an excellent riseball, which you don’t see that much at the high school level.”
Jones received early run support from her offense, which also hurt the Olympians (7-14). After the first two batters drew a walk from East starter Jordan Johnston, the Bloomington North’s Ragan Davis drove a ball over the left-field fence for a three-run homer, giving the Cougars (8-10) an early 3-0 lead.
That is all Jones would need. After giving up a leadoff single to Mady Foster, Jones did not allow another Olympian baserunner until Kaitlin Brummett reached base on an error in the fourth. East had only one hit through the first six innings.
With her offense struggling, Johnston held the Cougars at bay. She did not allow a run after the first inning while she was in the circle. Johnston went six innings, giving up only the three runs.
Bloomington North essentially put the game out of reach, however, in the seventh. The Cougars exploded for four runs on four hits to add to their lead, taking a 7-0 advantage into the bottom of the seventh.
The Olympian bats came to life in the seventh, but they couldn’t break through to dent the scoreboard. Johnston led off with a single, followed by consecutive hits by Katie Taylor and Kerigan Greathouse to lead the bases with nobody out. But a strikeout, a popout and a fielder’s choice preserved the shutout for Bloomington North and sent East home for the season.
Rusty Brummett however, was not disappointed with his team.
“I thought we pitched well and played good defense,” he said. “They had a great pitcher and played well defensively.”
He also is looking forward to the future.
“Although we lose Kaitlyn Murphy and Brooke Valles, we have some young kids coming in. We have some pitching and some quickness, and we have a good group coming back,” Rusty Brummett said.
