By ANDREW GREGORY sports@newsandtribune.com
JEFFERSONVILLE — In a hitters’ duel, Jeffersonville outlasted Mid-Southern Conference co-champions Silver Creek 11-6 at Don Poole Field.
The Red Devils are now 8-3 against ranked teams this season. Silver Creek entered Wednesday’s contest ranked sixth in the latest IHSBCA Class 3A.
The fourth-ranked Dragons managed to get a run across in the top of the first when Monday’s hero Bryson McNay walked and later came across on a Sammy Barnett RBI single.
The Red Devils were able to equal that, though, after Ian Ellis came across the plate on a Joe Burke RBI single for a 1-1 game at the end of an inning.
Jeffersonville freshman pitcher Gabe Bierman struck out the bottom third of the Dragons lineup in order in the top of the second.
Bierman held Silver Creek (17-6) hit less in the third, as well, before being replaced on the mound by Ellis in the fourth.
The Red Devils (15-7) found their bats in the fourth when, after a base hit and two walks to load the bases, Jeremiah Phelps hit a bases-clearing double to give Jeffersonville a 5-1 lead. A second double — this one by Drew Campbell — chased the Dragons freshman starter Damian Hedges. It was 7-1 with Jeff leading after four innings.
“It’s about being aggressive,” Red Devils coach Derek Ellis said. “We’re looking for a pitch that we can hit and we’re going after it. We’re not going to let it get deep into the count.”
Silver Creek attempted to claw its way back into the game in the top of the fifth, bringing across two runs, but the Red Devils hot bats countered right back. They put up four more runs in the bottom of the frame thanks to a three-RBI single by Campbell.
The Red Devils had all of the cushion that they needed to hold onto the lead, despite allowing three runs in the sixth.
Drew Campbell went-4-for 4 with two runs and four RBIs.
“I was just trying to come out and hit the ball hard,” said Campbell. “I tried to get on base and get runs in.”
Ellis went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run and a stolen base.
Silver Creek, which fell 10-3 to New Albany on Tuesday night after beating Brownstown Central in 11 innings to win its fourth consecutive MSC crown Monday, completed its regular season 17-6.
“We’re in a stretch where we’ve played five or six games in six days,” Dragons coach Joe Decker said. “For us, at this stage, we are trying to get ready for sectionals and we had some positives to prepare us for that.”

Jeff hosts Columbus East on Friday. The Olympians beat the Red Devils 2-1 in last week’s Hoosier Hills
W — Ian Ellis (5-1). LP — Damien Hedges (1-2). 2B — Bryson McNay (S), Drew Campbell (J), Ian Ellis (J), Jeremiah Phelps (J). 3B — Casey Gibson (J).
Records — Silver Creek 17-6, Jeffersonville 15-7.

Posted: Tuesday, May 12, 2015 11:46 pm
By HANSON CRAFTON sports@newsandtribune.com
JEFFERSONVILLE — The Jeffersonville baseball team opened up the Hoosier Hills Conference Tournament in a good way with a 4-1 win over visiting Bedford North Lawrence on Tuesday at Don Poole Field. The game got rained out Monday.
Red Devil pitcher Ian Ellis was superb on the hill and carried Jeff into the next round. Ellis went all seven innings and looked good from the start. He ran into some trouble in the third inning when a walk followed by a throwing error led to Bedford’s only run. He scattered seven hits and finished with seven strikeouts and three walks. Ellis did not get any run support early but kept the game in his hands and continued to blank the Stars.
Jeff’s offense finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth The Red Devils were able to score three runs for their pitcher in the frame.
They got their first run after back-to-back doubles from Jeremiah Phelps and Drew Campbell. Joe Burke later doubled to score Campbell along with pinch runner Trenton Norris, giving Jeffersonville a 3-1 lead. Jeff was back at it in the sixth inning as Jared Burke scored on a Cam Northern single.
Joe Burke went 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBIs. Jared Burke was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base.
The Red Devils (13-5) advanced to the semifinal round of the HHC Tourney, where they will host Columbus East at 6 tonight.

BASEBALL: Red Devils knock off No. 2 Floyd
Central, 5­2
BY KEVIN HARRIS | Posted: Thursday, April 30, 2015 7:52 am
FLOYDS KNOBS – The Jeffersonville Red Devils
did what they should do
when a team faces a top­five opponent
night – they came out
Wednesday
swinging.
Jeff scored three runs in the top of the first inning and
proceeded to
defeat Class 4A No. 2 Floyd Central at Highlander
Field, 5­2. It was
the Red Devils’ first victory over the Hoosier Hills
Conference­rival
Highlanders in their annual regular­season meeting in
four seasons.
“We kind of set the tone a little bit in the first inning. Top to
bottom, it was just a great ballgame for us,” Jeff head coach Derek
Ellis said. “Pitching, defensively and offensively – when you put it
altogether, it was a nice win.”
Starting pitcher Ian Ellis got the Jeff offense rolling in the first.
He hit a one­out double to right field off Floyd starter Brandon
Smith. After the younger Ellis got replaced by courtesy runner Chris
Downs, Red Devil first baseman Joe Burke launched an opposite­field
triple to deep right to knock in Downs for a 1­0 lead.
Following a Jared Burke groundout, senior catcher Casey Gibson slugged
a double off the left­field fence to knock in Joe Burke from second to
Jeffersonville vs Floyd Central 01
Jeffersonville’s Nolan Fertig is
congratulated by his teammates after
scoring during the Red Devils’ game at
Floyd Central on Wednesday.
give Jeff a two­run advantage.
Nolan Fertig increased the Red Devil lead to 3­0 when he pulled an RBI
single to right to plate courtesy runner Jordan Thomas, who was
running for Gibson.
“They did a good job of hitting the ball, especially with two
strikes,” Floyd Central head coach Casey LaDuke said. “I thought
Brandon did a decent job of getting two strikes on them, and they did
a heck of a job putting the ball in play. I give them credit – they
hit the heck out of the ball. Anytime you can put two or three runs on
the board in the first inning, it’s a big deal.”
Derek Ellis said it was a pleasant surprise in the three­run first.
“You don’t expect that,” he said. “Brandon Smith is a very, very good
pitcher and we put some good swings on some good pitches. We did a
nice job on a good pitcher.”
The Highlanders (12­2) pulled to within a run in the bottom of the
third. With a runner at first, Floyd Central senior Trey Fulton
delivered a one­out single to advance second baseman Charlie Loveall
to third.
Then Highlander senior Austin Newell trimmed Jeff’s lead to 3­1 with a
base hit to left to knock in Loveall. After Colton Kimm flied out to
center, Smith plated Fulton with a one­run single to left.
The Red Devils (7­3) got their advantage back up to two runs in the
top of the fourth. With two out and a runner at third, Ellis helped
his own cause by collecting an infield to knock in Jeremiah Phelps
from third to put Jeff up 4­2.
Shortstop Bailey Falkenstein tacked on insurance run for the Devils in
the top of the seventh. After a Fertig leadoff single, Falkenstein
smacked a deep double to center to drive in Fertig.
Joe Burke was the Red Devils’ top hitter, going 3­for­3 with a run
scored and an RBI. Ellis and Falkenstein each went 2­for­3 with an
RBI, while Fertig was 2­for­4 with a run scored.
Ian Ellis upped his record to 2­1 in a complete­game performance. The
junior right­hander allowed two earned runs on eight hits and no
walks. He struck out three and gave up only two hits in the final four
frames.
“I mostly tried to throw strikes and I didn’t have any walks,” he
said. “[The 3­0 lead] gave me a lot of confidence to throw strikes.”
Smith dropped to 2­2, yielding four runs (all earned) on 10 hits in
five innings. He walked three and hit one batter while striking out
one. Floyd left­handed reliever Wyatt Cherry pitched the final two
innings. He allowed one run (earned) on two hits with three
strikeouts.
Newell and Smith each went 2­for­3, and Fulton was 2­for­4 with a run scored.
“Each player has got to look at themselves and see if there is
something they can improve on tonight. Tomorrow is a new day and we’ve
got to move on,” LaDuke said about his players. “We’ll get over it.
We’ll come back Friday and be ready to go.”
Both teams will have home games Friday. Jeff will host Class 3A No. 3
Jasper, while the Highlanders will entertain Class 3A No. 10
Charlestown.
JEFFERSONVILLE 5, FLOYD CENTRAL 2
Jeffersonville 300 100 1—5 12 0
Floyd Central 002 000 0—2 8 1
W – Ian Ellis (2­1). L – Brandon Smith (2­2). 2B – Ellis (J), Casey
Gibson (J), Bailey Falkenstein (J), Kyle Beach (FC). 3B – Joe Burke
(J).
Records – Jeff 7­3, Floyd Central 12­2.

Posted: Monday, April 27, 2015 11:48 pm
BY KEVIN HARRIS
Kevin Harris
Posted on Apr 27, 2015by Kevin Harris
JEFFERSONVILLE — With three ranked teams on this week’s schedule, the Jeffersonville Red Devils picked a bad time to have one of their worst performances of the season Monday night at Don Poole Field.
Jeff allowed four unearned runs in the top of the second inning and lost 5-2 to a below-.500 Louisville Eastern team. It was a head-scratching setback for the Red Devils after they thumped Louisville St. Xavier, which entered as the top-ranked team in Kentucky, last Thursday at Poole Field, 12-5.
“They need to learn that they have to bring energy and effort every single day,” Jeff head coach Derek Ellis said about his players. “You’ve just come off a nice victory [last Thursday] against St. X, then you have a mental letdown after that. That just can’t happen.”
Jeff’s difficult week will continue tonight with a home game against Class 3A No. 8 North Harrison. On Wednesday, the Red Devils will travel to Class 4A No. 2 Floyd Central for a make-up game, followed by a home game with 3A No. 3 Jasper on Friday night.
Jeff’s week will end by playing in the Noblesville Classic Tournament on Saturday, hosted by the defending Class 4A state champion Millers.
The Red Devils (5-3) got on the scoreboard first. In the bottom of the first, Nolan Fertig collected a one-out, opposite-field double that reached the left-field corner.
First baseman Joe Burke then smacked a single up the middle to drive in Fertig to put Jeff up 1-0. But during that sequence, Burke tried to stretch his hit into a double and got thrown out at second base.
In the top of the second, the Eagles (6-13) got their first two runners on base via Red Devil errors. Chase Peterson led off the inning by reaching base when Jeff second baseman Jared Burke had a grounder go under his glove.
Red Devil shortstop Bailey Falkenstein followed that miscue up by mishandling a grounder off the bat of Alex Burke. Jeff starter Dawson Willis loaded the bases by walking Justin Coffey, then threw a wild pitch to plate Peterson that tied the game at one.
After Willis struck out Eagles’ catcher Tanner Head, Chad Lanzone put Eastern ahead for good with an opposite-field, two-run double to left field. Willis gave up an infield single and a walk to load the bases again, prompting a visit to the mound by Ellis.
“I just challenged him to bear down, grit his teeth and go at the hitters a little bit. I was trying to see what was inside of him a little bit,” Ellis said.
Bailey Sutton gave the Eagles a 4-1 lead with a sacrifice fly to left to knock in Lanzone.
“We were giving up unearned runs and giving guys extra at-bats and more outs, and that’s one thing that we don’t want to do,” Ellis said. “We’re not good enough to do that. We just can’t allow a four-run inning or a five-run inning with anybody that we play.”
Jeff got a run in the bottom of the second. Catcher Casey Gibson started the frame with a triple to deep right off Eastern starter Kyle Nunn. Courtesy runner Jordan Thomas came in to run for Gibson. Third baseman Ian Ellis drove in Thomas with a base hit to right to cut the Devils’ deficit to 4-2.
The Eagles’ final run happened in the top of the seventh. Cameron Watson smacked an opposite-field double to right off Red Devil reliever Cam Northern to plate courtesy runner Evan Johnson from second.
Nunn got the win in a complete-game effort. The left-hander allowed two earned runs on six hits with eight strikeouts. He walked one batter and hit one.
“Their pitcher was pretty good. He kept us off-balance. We struck out eight times. We struck out more times than we had hits, which is not a good combination when you give up four in an inning,” Derek Ellis said. “He wasn’t a very hard thrower by any means, but he was throwing his curveball for a strike and throwing his off-speed pitch for a strike. It looked like he was hitting his spots. That’s what it takes.”
Willis’ record fell to 0-2. In six innings of work, the junior right-hander surrendered four runs, none of which were earned, on four hits. He fanned three, walked two and hit two Eagles.
After the second, Willis yielded no runs on two hits before being pulled for Northern to begin the seventh.
“I challenged him pretty good and he responded. He did a pretty nice job after that,” Coach Ellis said about Willis’ effort following his conference on the mound in the second inning. “I think he zoned in on his concentration a little more. I don’t think he was thinking totally about what he was trying to accomplish out there. I just wanted him to stay within himself and just concentrate on the pitch that’s being called that we’re asking him to throw and not all the other things that’s going on.”
Joe Burke went 2-for-2 with an RBI, while Gibson was 2-for-3 in the loss.
LOUISVILLE EASTERN 5, JEFFERSONVILLE 2
Lou. Eastern 040 000 1—5 6 1
Jeffersonville 110 000 0—2 6 2
W — Kyle Nunn (2-2). L — Dawson Willis (0-2). 2B — Cameron Watson (LE), Chad Lazone (LE), Nolan Fertig (J). 3B — Casey Gibson (J).
Records — Louisville Eastern 6-13, Jeffersonville 5-3.

Posted: Thursday, April 23, 2015 11:41 pm
By ANDREW GREGORY sports@newsandtribune.com
JEFFERSONVILLE — The Red Devils defeated St. Xavier (Ky.) 12-5 on Thursday night behind a good night at the plate and exceptional starting pitching.
Jeffersonville freshman starter Gabe Bierman pitched five innings and only allowed three runs with six strikouts before being replaced by relief pitcher Cam Northern in the sixth inning.
“I’m very proud of Gabe and how a 15-year-old freshman responded against one of the top teams in Kentucky,” Jeffersonville coach Derek Ellis said. “I’m proud of all our guys and [fellow-freshman] Bailey Falkenstein was another bright spot at shortstop and at the plate.”
“My breaking ball was working really well and I had a really good defense behind me,” Bierman said.
St. Xavier — ranked No. 1 in Kentucky — defeated Floyd Central, which is No. 1 in Indiana, on Wednesday night. The Tigers starting pitcher, Daniel Fisher, only pitched two innings. It was enough to earn the loss.
The Tigers looked strong in the top of the first, bringing in two runs, but Jeffersonville countered with four runs of their own in the bottom of that inning, and never looked back.
“Other than the first-inning jitters and two errors on one play, we played about as good as we can play,” Ellis said. “Of the seven games we played, that was our best outing so far.”
“The first inning, we [got on top of Bierman]. We scored two and left the bases loaded, but a double play ends the inning,” St. Xavier coach Andy Porta said.
After the first, though, the Tigers were held scoreless until the fourth inning. The same could not be said for the Red Devils, who scored once in the bottom of the second, and put up seven runs in the third, an inning in which Jeffersonville batted through its entire lineup.

“We hit the ball,” Ellis said. “It was nice. We hit the ball top-to-bottom [of the lineup] and we had a lot of guys who got some nice hits with two strikes.”
“You have to give Jeff all of the credit in the world,” Porta said.
Jeff, which beat rival New Albany 5-4 on Wednesday night, will try to continue its winning streak Saturday when it travels to Bedford to take on the Class 4A No. 4 Stars.
JEFFERSONVILLE 12, ST. XAVIER (KY.) 5
St. Xavier 200 010 2— 5 10 2
Jeffersonville 417 000 x—12 14 3
W — Gabe Bierman (2-0). L — Daniel Fisher (1-1). 2B — Nick Nelson (X), Joe Burke (J), 3B — Jeremiah Phelps (J).
Records — St. Xavier 16-7, Jeffersonville 5-2