Dominant pitching, timely hitting, and minimizing mistakes in the field was the story in Shelbyville as the Olympians and Bulldogs found their way into the Sectional 14 Championship. Fans in attendance saw plenty of big hits and big name pitchers. The three days in Shelby County did not disappoint. 

Columbus East 9 East Central 2

Senior Alec Burnett (UIndy recruit) is a 6-foot-2 180 pound presence on the mound.  He struck out 13 giving up just one hit in a complete game effort. Quite an effort for an athlete who saw little time at the varsity level as a junior last season. Utilizing a two fastball mix from 84-89 with arm side run and an 11/5 power breaking ball at 76-79, Burnett kept hitters off the plate and off the bases all evening.  

2020 Indiana commit Cole Gilley put Columbus East ahead with a two-run shot to left in the third, but a five run fifth is what did the Trojans of St. Leon in, ending the season at 10-13. A few hit by pitches energized the Olympians at the plate and Burnett brought the momentum back to the mound hitting his highest numbers of the evening in the sixth and seventh.  

Columbus East moves to 19-7 on the season and will face Columbus North in a home town rivalry game on Monday night. 

Columbus North 5 Bloomington North 4

Future Hoosier pitchers took the mound Friday night as No. 22 Columbus North and Bloomington North squared off for a chance to face Columbus East in Monday night's sectional Championship.  

And while 2019 RHP Dylan Steele posted some impressive numbers on the radar gun sitting easily 86-89 and touching 90 on several occasions, he was removed after only 46 pitches and 2+ innings of work. Steele finished the evening on the mound giving up four hits, 2 runs, a walk and a strikeout.  

It was 2020 Casper Clark, however, who had the bigger night. Clark, also an Indiana commit, went the distance allowing just two earned and striking out 11 with an array of swing and miss sliders. Fastball was 84-88 throughout his 119 pitches.  

2021 catcher Austin Bode, Lousiville commit, displayed his capacity at the plate recording 3 of the Bulldog's 6 hits adding a double and a line drive to left center with a knee on the ground. Bloomington North's Riley Gallagher showed off some bat speed with a homerun for the Cougars.  

Championship: Columbus North 6 Columbus East 7

In the most highly anticipated game of Sectional 14, two teams from Columbus needed extra innings, multiple home runs, and some gutsy play on the bases before the night was over. As the sun set on the 2018 IHSAA Sectionals the Olympians were left standing and hoisting their first trophy since 1999. 

Columbus North got started early and built a 4-0 lead in the first three innings. Snead State signee Tyler Finke put North ahead 1-0 before another run came in on a wild pitch by 2020 Olympian RHP Cole Gilley. Gilley gave up a couple more and trailed 4-0 after three. 

But that wasn't all the news for Gilley. After putting two on the board, Gilley came up in the bottom of the sixth and smashed a home run to left field, his second four-bagger of the tournament.  

As Gilley headed to his dugout some chatter from the opposing side seemed to wake up an otherwise quiet Olympian squad. Senior Drew Hasson, Northern Illinois commit, came on in relief and promptly gave up a Grant Trinkle single sac fly in the top of the seventh. Columbus North led 5-4 heading to the last half.  

But just as Gilley did early in the evening, Hasson drove a blast over the center field fence. Ballgame again tied at 5-5. 

Moving to extra innings 2020 RHP/1B Casper Clark came to the plate after 2021 Kyler McIntosh reached on an error and Finke got on and stole second. A two-out single scored Finke putting the Bulldogs up 6-5 and again giving momentum to the team from Columbus North.  

The bottom of the eighth continued the back and forth between the two squads. North's pitcher Jakob Meyer loaded the bases before coach Ben McDaniel brought in 2021 3B/RHP Kyler McIntosh. McIntosh hit Jonah Wichman tying the game before giving up a dink single to Josh Major winning the game for East. 

Columbus East will now play Castle on June 2nd at 10am at historic Bosse Field in Evansville.

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