One thing that has plagued Columbus East in this early part of the season is giving up that one big inning.
It happened to be the case again Tuesday night when the Olympians took on Class 4A No. 6 Zionsville. East gave up three runs in the second inning, and it proved costly in a 5-1 loss.
“We kind of spotted them those four runs early. We had a hard time coming back. They had great pitchers,” East coach Jon Gratz said. “We didn’t strike out a lot. We just didn’t string a bunch of hits together. We got some hits here and there. We left a lot of guys on base, We weren’t stringing them together.”
The Eagles got on the board off Olympians ace Kaden Wise in the first inning to make it 1-0. In the top of the second, Jacob Medvescek walked, and then Zach Nehlsen hit a single to put runners on first and second. A couple of passed balls scored a run. After a walk put runners on first and third, the runner on first advanced to second on another passed ball. Jackson Hughes delivered a a two-RBI single to increase the Zionsville lead to 4-0.
“If there was an answer for big innings, everyone would have it. It’s part of it. We’ve got to move on,” Gratz said.
East (2-4-1) finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Alex McComb walked, and then Josh Luedeke singled. A throwing error on the next play plated a run to make it 4-1.
Luedeke accounted for both of East hits in the game, going 2 for 3.
For Zionsville, Hughes was 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs, Brody Chrisman was 2 for 4 and David Novak was 1 for 4 with an RBI.
On the mound, Wise went the full seven innings allowing five runs on eight hits, with nine strikeouts and four walks.
“I thought Kaden looked the best he’s looked all year,” Gratz said. “He gave a few (runs) early, but he really settled in and looked like what we expected from him. That was definitely good to see out of him.”
The Olympians will try to bounce to back against familiar foes in Madison on Wednesday and Jeffersonville on Friday. Both of those games will be on the road.
