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.