East breaks down BNL for 8-2 win in HHC tourney

COLUMBUS – BNL’s Whitt Callahan flips the ball to first base during action against Columbus East in the consolation round of the HHC tournament on Wednesday. The Olympians topped the Stars 8-2.
Courtesy photo

COLUMBUS – Columbus East scored four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to rally past Bedford North Lawrence 8-2 in the consolation round of the Hoosier Hills Conference tournament on Wednesday.

The Olympians (7-10-1) trailed 2-0 when they battled back with a two-out, bases-loaded double by Will Rieckers to take control. Two errors by the Stars paved the way for four more East runs in the sixth.

BNL (15-8 with four straight losses) managed only four hits, one of them a double by Grant Dalton that set the stage for the two-run fourth. That lead didn’t last.

The Stars struck first when Cole Karr walked and Dalton lined a double to center. Konley Woodward chased home the first run with a ground out, and Braydon Brown got the second run home with a bunt.

East did a lot of damage without much hitting. Three walks and a hit batter produced the tying run in the fifth, and Rieckers doubled to left for a 4-2 lead. In the sixth, BNL’s defense broke down with two errors and two walks. All four runs scored without benefit of a hit that frame.

Ethan Ianni earned the win on the mound for East, working 3 2/3 innings in relief and striking out 4 while scattering 3 hits. Rieckers was 4 for 4 at the plate and had 3 RBIs.

COLUMBUS – Evan Waggoner had one of BNL’s four hits against East.
Courtesy photo

Karr, Evan Waggoner and Aden Pemberton produced the other hits for the Stars. Karr suffered the loss, giving up 4 runs with only 3 hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out 7 but walked 4.

“The first four innings we played really well,” BNL coach Jeff Callahan said. “We had a couple of chances to get runs, and we have to be able to score when we can. We somehow have to get runs across, whether it’s a key hit or something to shake it up.”

BNL will visit Seymour on Friday. Jennings County conquered the Owls 2-0 in the other game of the consolation bracket.

In other HHC action, Floyd Central advanced to the final with a 5-3 victory over New Albany, while Jeffersonville scored a run in the bottom of the ninth inning to clip Madison 1-0 in the other semifinal. The Devils won without getting a hit.