Columbus East High School

COLUMBUS EAST — With the 2025 IHSAA State Tournament looming just days away, the Columbus East Olympians delivered a postseason-caliber performance on Friday night, walking off Southport 7-6 in a dramatic back-and-forth battle to close the regular season in style. Down by a run in the bottom of the seventh, it was senior Kenzie Hampton who ignited the final rally by drawing a leadoff walk. A perfectly placed sacrifice bunt from Ariel Darnell moved Hampton into scoring position, setting the stage for Daisy Logan. On a 2-strike pitch, Logan drilled a ground ball down the right field line, bringing Hampton home with the game-winning run and sending the Olympians pouring out of the dugout in celebration. The game had no shortage of twists. Southport jumped ahead early, scoring four runs in the first inning off starter Jacque Boroughs, aided by timely singles and a defensive miscue. But East quickly responded. After Lola Watkins walked and Thaise Jessup singled, a ground ball from Baleigh Fish and an error plated two runs, cutting the deficit to 3-2 by the end of the first. Watkins was an offensive spark all evening, finishing with a double, a single, a walk, and an RBI. She also added a key catch in center field that helped limit Southport’s fourth-inning surge. The Olympians clawed ahead in the third thanks to a Fish single, walks to Boroughs and Natasha Armstrong, and a groundout RBI by Taylor Wessel that gave East a 4-3 lead. But Southport countered with a three-run fourth, reclaiming the advantage 6-4. Unfazed, the Olympians chipped away. Armstrong opened the fifth with a double, then scored on a crafty bunt by Hampton that turned into an RBI fielder’s choice. In the sixth, Fish roped a two-out double and came home on a single from Boroughs, tying the game at 6. On the mound, Boroughs settled in after a rocky first inning, tallying seven strikeouts before yielding to Fish in the fifth. Fish picked up the win in relief, striking out three and keeping Southport scoreless over the final three innings. Columbus East showed off its depth and grit throughout the night. Jessup handled catching duties with poise, reaching base twice and catching a runner stealing. Armstrong reached base three times and scored twice. Lily Tindell added a sacrifice bunt in a crucial fifth-inning rally. With the walk-off win, the Olympians close out their regular season with momentum and belief. They’ll now shift focus to the postseason, where they’ll open sectional play next week—riding high after one of their most thrilling wins of the year. The O's open Sectional play on Wednesday, May 28th when they face their cross-town rivals, the Columbus North Bulldogs. First pitch: 6 p.m. All Sectional games will be played at East Central High School, in St. Leon, IN. Online ticket information: https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=130079 Let the tournament begin!