Drew Rotert
Columbus East loaded the bases in three separate innings Wednesday evening, but couldn’t come through with a hit.
The Olympians managed one run, but it wasn’t nearly enough in a 9-1 baseball loss to Bloomington North.
Although he walked nine batters and hit one, the Cougars’ Brady Leonard threw a no-hitter. East loaded the bases with one out in the second and with two out in the fourth before Leonard got out of the jams.
Meanwhile, Bloomington North scored three in the second, one in the third and four in the fourth to take an 8-0 lead. East’s run came in the sixth when Leonard walked four consecutive batters, including Drew Rotert with the bases loaded.
Rotert allowed 12 hits, but only two earned runs.
“He threw really well again,” East coach Jon Gratz said. “He’s thrown great all year for us. We just didn’t make the plays behind him.”
Rotert and catcher Logan Warren were the only two of six seniors to play on senior night. The Olympians (7-18) were missing five starters because of suspensions or not having enough practices in after being away from the team.
“We had some new guys in there that had not a lot of at bats this year,” Gratz said. “We struggled a little bit when we had guys on. They gave us some free bases, and we didn’t get them; and we gave them some free bases, and they got the runs in.”
East is expected to be at full strength when they visit Edgewood Friday and Bedford North Monday to close the regular season. The East Sectional begins May 28, and the Olympians will play Franklin in the semifinals May 30.
