BEDFORD — It’s been quite the week for Jeffersonville in the Hoosier Hills Conference Tournament.

First, the Red Devils beat Floyd Central 3-2 in eight innings on Monday. On Wednesday, Jeff beat New Albany 12-5 in the semifinal.

The week, and tournament, was capped off with a 3-2 win in 13 innings over No. 5 Bedford North Lawrence in the championship on Friday.

Jeff had lost to the Highlanders, Bulldogs and Stars earlier this season. The defeats were motivation.

“Just like against New Albany and [Floyd Central], it put a fire under our butts,” Jeff first baseman Ethan English said. “We just wanted to come out here and beat them.”

English’s hit to left center scored Drew Taylor in the top of the 13th inning to put the Devils ahead. In the bottom half of the 13th, a double play ended the long night. Jack Ellis caught a low line drive and fired it to English, who made a beautiful scoop at first base to double up Bedford’s Michael Underwood.

The Devils (12-8) impressed many, their coach included.

“What we’ve learned is that they can play with anybody,” Jeff coach Derek Ellis said. “If we throw strikes, if we make the routine plays and we get timely hits, we’re as good as anybody. We’ve still got to execute in some areas, but what I’m most proud about this team is their heart and their will to not give up.”

The loss was devastating for Bedford (17-3). A win would’ve meant the Stars’ first HHC Tournament title in the final one before next year’s conference round-robin. The talented team has little choice other than to look forward.

“We didn’t win the Hoosier Hills Conference, but the sectional’s the bigger prize and the sectional’s the one that’s still out there,” BNL coach Jeff Callahan said. “We get to play it here and I think we’ll have big crowds for our games. It’ll be an exciting sectional. It’s obviously very wide open.”

The Devils led 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh and were one out away from ending the game in regulation. Austin Long had other plans. The starting Bedford pitcher sent a home run over the left-field fence to tie the game and send it to extras.

“We could’ve folded our tent when Long hits the home run,” Coach Ellis said. “We’ve been burned like that in regionals for two walk-offs under me. I’ve seen that stinkin’ play before. We could’ve folded, but we didn’t. We showed a lot of heart and character. I’m just extremely proud of them.”

By the time the eighth inning began, both starting pitchers were done.

Jeff’s Jacob Cochrum pitched seven innings, allowed four hits, struck out five and walked six. He surrendered two earned runs. Bedford’s Long went six innings. He allowed seven hits, earned one run, struck out five Devils and walked four.

The game looked like it would end in the bottom of the ninth. BNL’s Drew Hensley singled to open the inning. On a sacrifice-bunt play down the third baseline, he stole second and quickly took an extra base when he saw that third was uncovered. With one out and the three and four hitters due up, Coach Ellis issued two intentional walks to load the bases.

Reliever Michael Minton, who picked up his first win of the season, struck out the next batter for the second out. With the bases loaded, two outs and the winning run on third, Brandt Callahan flew out to centerfield.

“He gutted it out,” Coach Ellis said of Minton. “I told [Minton] before the game started, ‘At some point you’re probably going to have to get in this ball game.’ We’re out of guys. [Bailey] Falkenstein’s down, we’ve used all of our other guys up. He was going to be the next guy. We knew and I had him mentally prepared for it and he was. He did a phenomenal job.”

Minton pitched six innings in relief to earn the win. He allowed four hits and stranded seven Stars on the base paths.

All five pitchers that saw action were impressive. Altogether, the teams combined to strand 31 runners.

The instant classic that unfolded Friday night is tough to sum up in a few words, but BNL’s Callahan did a good job.

“That’s baseball,” he said. “That was a helluva baseball game by two teams that came out and competed.”

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HOOSIER HILLS CONFERENCE

CHAMPIONSHIP

JEFFERSONVILLE 3, BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 2

Jeffersonville 001 100 000 000 1—3 13 2

Bedford NL 001 000 100 000 0—2 8 2

W — Michael Minton (1-0). L — Cole Matthews (5-1). 2B — Austin Long (B), Drew Taylor (J). HR — Austin Long (B). Records — Bedford 17-3, Jeff 12-8.

justin.maskulinski@newsandtribune.com