Columbus East shortstop Eli Tindell catches a throw from the outfield as Columbus North’s Blake Osbourne slides into second base May 5, 2023 at Columbus East.
The Republic file photo
Columbus East will look for a bounce-back baseball season after a rough 2023.
After winning a regional title and reaching the state’s final four in 2022, the Olympians went 4-23 last year after dropping their final 12 games. Veteran coach Jon Gratz is optimistic they can return to winning ways.
“They’ve been getting after it,” Gratz said. “We had a really good offseason. We have a lot of returning guys that have bought in. They had a really bad taste in their mouths from last year, and they’ve really been working hard.”
East will be inexperienced on the mound after losing its top five in innings pitched. Junior Eli Tindell and senior Blake Borkhart did a little pitching last season. They will be joined this year by junior Jackson Watkins, sophomores Stone Myers and Kaden Arnholt and possibly freshman J.D. Rotert.
“I feel pretty good about our pitching staff this year,” Gratz said. “We have a lot of guys that added velocity in the offseason. We’ll be in good shape to compete on the mound this year.”
Columbus East’s Blake Borkhardt prepares to bat against Cathedral April 4, 2023 at Columbus East.
The Republic file photo
Junior Logan Warren returns at catcher, and Borkhardt, who has committed to Jackson (Michigan) College, is back for his fourth year at first base. Senior Chase Niese and Tindell, who batted .305, return at second and short, and either of them also could play in the outfield this spring.
Watkins also can play shortstop, and senior Evan Huckaby and junior A.J. Tindell are battling at third. Seniors Chase Jones and Evan Balzer saw action in the outfield and at designated hitter, and will play left and right field. Eli Tindell, Niese, junior Marcus Wilkinson and Rotert all could play in center.
“We have a lot of guys that were playing varsity for the first time last year,” Gratz said. “We have a good mix of young talent and some seniors that have played. I feel a lot more comfortable with the experience we have coming back. They’ve been great leaders this offseason, helping guys understand what East baseball is all about. They took their lumps last year, but I think that made them better and more prepared for this year.”
The Olympians have upgraded their field, including the addition of turf in the infield. They’ll show off those renovations when they open the season Tuesday against Waubonsie Valley (Illinois).
“I feel good about where we’re at right now,” Gratz said. “We’ve had a bunch of good practices. We’re swinging it well. Our pitching staff has looked really good so far. We don’t have any 90 MPH guys, but they’re hitting their spots. We should be pretty good offensively and defensively. We have a lot of speed, so we should be able to run a lot this year. We’re going one-day-at-a-time, trying to get 1% better every day and give ourselves a chance at the end of the year.”
The 2024 Columbus East baseball schedule:
Tuesday vs. Waubonsie Valley (Ill.), 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday vs. Center Grove, 6 p.m.
Friday vs. Corydon Central, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday at Decatur Central, 11 a.m.
April 1 at Scottsburg, 6 p.m.
April 4 vs. Seymour, 5:30 p.m.
April 6 vs. Floyd Central, 11 a.m.
April 9 vs. Jeffersonville, 6 p.m.
April 10 vs. Madison, 6 p.m.
April 11 at Providence 5:45 p.m.
April 13 at Franklin, 10 a.m.
April 15 at Edgewood, 6 p.m.
April 16 at Silver Creek, 6 p.m.
April 23 vs. Bedford North Lawrence, 5:30 p.m.
April 25 vs. Jennings County, 5:30 p.m.
April 26 at Bloomington South, 6 p.m.
April 29 at Southport, 6 p.m.
April 30 vs. Batesville, 5:30 p.m.
May 3 at Columbus North, 7 p.m.
May 6 at Floyd Central (HHC Tournament), 6 p.m.
May 8 in HHC Tournament at TBA, TBA
May 10 in HHC Tournament, TBA
May 13 vs. New Albany, 6 p.m.
May 14 vs. East Central, 6 p.m.
May 15 at Bloomington North, 6 p.m.
May 17 at Roncalli, 6 p.m.
