Columbus East High School

COLUMBUS EAST — Sophomore pitcher J.D. Rotert delivered a standout performance on the mound Friday night at The Cauldron, but the Columbus East Olympians fell just short in a tightly contested 2-1 extra-inning loss to non-conference opponent Bloomington South. Rotert was electric through 6.2 innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run while striking out six Panthers. The left-hander kept Bloomington South off the scoreboard for six full innings, mixing command and composure as he battled through traffic and worked around five walks. The Olympians grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth when junior Bige Asher drove in senior Eli Tindell, who had reached base with one of his team’s seven hits. Columbus East threatened multiple times, loading the bases in the sixth and again getting runners on in the seventh, but couldn't add insurance. Bloomington South tied the game in the top of the seventh and pushed across the eventual winning run in the eighth off a bases-loaded walk. Junior Ryker Stott took over in relief and battled through a tough inning, issuing three walks as the Panthers manufactured a run without the benefit of a hit. Despite the loss, Stott helped close out the frame and gave the Olympians a chance to respond in the bottom half. Offensively, Asher led the way with a 2-for-4 night, while freshman Landyn Jewell made the most of his lone at-bat with a pinch-hit single. Despite outhitting the Panthers 7-4 and committing no errors, the Olympians left 12 runners stranded. The loss drops Columbus East to 6-8 on the season, though the team can draw encouragement from the performance of its young ace. Rotert's poise and dominance against a strong Bloomington South lineup were a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating result. Columbus East will look to bounce back early next week as they return to action on Monday, May 5th when they host the Southport Cardinals. First pitch: 6 p.m.