JEFFERSONVILLE — In a battle of conference champions, the Hoosier Hills had the edge over the Mid-Southern as Jeffersonville took an early lead and beat Silver Creek 5-1 Wednesday at Don Poole Field.

The Red Devils (14-8) scored in each of the first four innings, while starter Cam Northern kept the Dragons (19-9) bats at bay early.

“We played well, we swung the bats early and we were aggressive,” Jeff coach Derek Ellis said. “Put a little pressure [on Silver Creek].”

Ellis also tipped his hat to the Dragons, and for good reason. Wednesday’s matchup was their 11th game in 11 days.

“It’s been brutal,” Silver Creek coach Joe Decker said of the stretch. “We’re not real deep. In past years when we’ve had this, it’s gotten broken up by rain a little bit, but we were also deeper. We could sub some guys and we could give guys rest. With the way things are this year, we don’t have that luxury. The same nine or 10 guys are going all the time.”

The stretch ended with back-to-back losses to Class 4A teams, but Decker is hopeful the team will benefit from it. The Dragons are now off until they host the 3A Sectional next week.

“I think it’ll be good for us going into sectional,” he said. “I think mentally, we needed a break.”

Ethan English’s 2-run home run to left broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the first inning to give Jeff the lead.

The Devils managed three extra-base hits in the first two innings and led 3-0 through two. The first six Jeff batters all had a hit in the game. Bennie Day was 2-for-3 with a double and bunt for his hits.

On the mound, Northern did not surrender a hit until the fourth inning. He struck out five of the first nine batters he faced, including a 1-2-3 strikeout inning in the second.

Jeff added two runs in the third and fourth innings on RBIs from Hunter Schmitz and Michael Minton. The Devils led 5-0 after four.

Silver Creek’s Bryson McNay broke through in the fourth with the first Dragon hit — a leadoff single to left field. All five of the Silver Creek hits came in the final three innings.

“Our approach at plate was really bad in the first three innings, I’ll give Cam part of the credit for that,” Decker said. “We didn’t take very good swings in the first three innings. In the last four innings, we kind of flipped a switch and it was totally different. We got way more competitive.”

In the fifth, the Dragons got on the scoreboard. Justin Brown led off with a double and scored on Elijah Bays’ single. Bays was 2-for-3 on the night.

Northern was replaced by Michael Minton after the run scored. With Minton on the mound, the Dragons managed four baserunners but couldn’t send any to the plate.

Jeffersonville is back in action on Saturday for a doubleheader in Bloomington. The Devils play South at noon and North at 3 p.m.

After Wednesday’s win, the Devils have won five games in a row. Ellis hopes his team can keep rolling into next week’s Bedford North Lawrence Sectional.

“Hopefully we’re going to have the same approach,” he said. “It’s the same old story — throw strikes, make the routine plays and get timely hits. If we can continue to do that, we’ll stay hot. If we struggle, it’ll be because one of those isn’t in line with the others. We’re going to continue to try do that.”

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JEFFERSONVILLE 5, SILVER CREEK 1

Silver Creek 000 010 0—1 5 0

Jeffersonville 211 100 x—5 7 1

W — Cam Northern (4-1). L — Justin Brown (4-6). 2B — Northern (J), Bennie Day (J), Brown (S). HR — EthanEnglish (J). Records — Silver Creek 19-9, Jeffersonville 14-8.

justin.maskulinski@newsandtribune.com

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

NEW ALBANY — Jeffersonville scored in all but one inning and beat rival New Albany 12-5 in the semifinal of the Hoosier Hills Conference Tournament on Wednesday at Mt. Tabor Field.

The Red Devils (11-8) play their third tournament road game Friday at Class 4A No. 5 Bedford North Lawrence, which beat Columbus East 5-1 on Wednesday, for the conference championship.

The Stars (17-2) beat Jeff 9-3 on April 22 and host the sectional later this month.

“We would love to play at home, but we’re just glad we’re playing in the championship game of the conference tournament,” Jeff coach Derek Ellis said. “Might as well get used to it. We’re going to have the sectional [at Bedford]. They got us so we’ve got a little bit of a chip on our shoulder. We’re going to go up there and we’re going to try to win this thing.”

The Devils got the scoring going early but for the first three innings, the Bulldogs (10-7) matched them every time.

Ethan English’s 2-run home run to right field in the first gave the Devils their first lead. English later pitched 4 1/3 innings of relief, struck out seven and did not surrender a hit.

“You don’t know if his heart’s beating. I don’t know if he has a pulse or not,” Ellis said of English. “Extremely pleased with the way he pitched. He set the tone at the plate getting the home run in the first inning. It’s kind of contagious. When one guy starts to hit, then everybody seems to hit.”

Chase Rudy’s 2-RBI single tied the game in the bottom of the first, but New Albany got a lot of help from the Devils with their scoring. In all, 10 Bulldog batters reached base via a walk or being hit. Altogether, the hosts had just three hits.

The main struggle for the Dogs was on the mound. They sent four pitchers to the mound in an effort to cool the Devils down.

“We just couldn’t find any answers pitching tonight,” New Albany coach Chris McIntyre said. “I could’ve brought a couple other different guys in, but it didn’t make any difference. Those guys have got to compete. In the sectional now with the pitch count, you’re going to have to go maybe three, four guys deep. The guys have got to get used to playing against this competition. I was very disappointed in our pitching.”

The rivals added three runs apiece in the second and third innings. The highlight was a solo shot to right center from Jeff’s Jack Ellis. The third baseman was 3-for-3 with two home runs and four RBIs. He reached base in all five plate appearances.

“We started out hot and just kept rolling through all seven innings,” he said. “[We] put up 12 runs and I think the rivalry really got us going tonight.”

English took to the mound in the bottom of the third with two outs and shut down the Dogs. After he entered, New Albany managed just three base runners and none got further than second.

Jeff added five runs in the final two innings. Two of them walked home in the sixth. English’s sacrifice fly scored the first in the seventh and Ellis’ 2-run shot made the final score.

New Albany will play for third place at Columbus East on Friday. The loss to Jeff evened the season series between the Devils and Dogs. The rubber match is in the first game of the sectional later this month.

“Baseball is such a streaky kind of sport,” McIntyre said. “[Sectional is] still two weeks away. From game to game they change so much. You see in the big leagues a team will come out and score 19 runs one night and get shut out the next. … We just didn’t play well tonight and we didn’t pitch worth a darn.”

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JEFFERSONVILLE 12, NEW ALBANY 5

Jeffersonville 212 202 3—12 10 1

New Albany 212 000 0— 5 3 1

W — Ethan English. L — Owen Tankersley. 2B — Michael Minton (J), Drew Taylor (J), Jacob Mullins (N), English (J). HR — Jack Ellis 2 (J), English (J). Records — Jeffersonville 11-8, New Albany 10-7.

justin.maskulinski@newsandtribune.com

JEFFERSONVILLE — Bennie Day knocked in three runs and Gabe Bierman kept the Louisville St. Xavier (Ky.) bats in check as Jeffersonville beat the visiting Tigers 5-1 on Thursday night at Don Poole Field.

It was a one-run game until Jeffersonville put together a four-run third inning. After that, Bierman and the Red Devils defense kept St. Xavier at bay.

“First-pitch strikes make it a lot easier,” Jeff coach Derek Ellis said of Bierman’s effort. “We had good defense behind him. His defense didn’t let him down."

For Bierman (2-3), who scattered three hits and finished with eight strikeouts in a complete-game effort, the defense allowed him to pitch his game.

“It makes me feel really comfortable,” Bierman said of the defense behind him.

Jeffersonville had a chance to score in the first inning, but a base running miscue and a bad break kept the home team scoreless.

Bailey Falkenstein had drawn a one out walk off of St. Xavier starter Matthew Logsdon but was picked off with Ethan English at bat. Moments later, English crushed a triple off the centerfield wall.

With English at third, Cam Northern hit an infield grounder and was initially called safe when a collision at first base knocked the ball loose. But Northern was shaken up, couldn’t make it back to the bag in time and was tagged out. The run didn’t count, much to the chagrin of the home crowd.

In the home second, the Red Devils were able to the run that had eluded them in the first.

Singles by Jack Ellis and Devyn Rivers gave Jeff runners at first and second with one out. Day followed that up with a single that scored pinch-runner Nick Grider from second and the Red Devils led 1-0.

Jeffersonville’s big inning came in the third when English was hit by a pitch and Northern hit a one out single up the middle. Ellis added a bloop single behind third base and that loaded the bases for Bierman.

Logsdon walked Bierman to score English to make it 2-0. That was it for the St. Xavier starter. He was relieved by Samuel Mudd.

Against Mudd with the bases still loaded, Rivers hit a fly out to centerfield that scored Northern and left runners at first and second.

Day was up next and a passed ball advanced the runners to second and third. Day took advantage with a two-run single up the middle and that gave the Red Devils a 5-0 lead.

“It was senior leadership from Bennie,” Coach Ellis said. “He did a great job.”

After giving up just two hits in five innings, Bierman struggled in the top of the sixth.

Ezekiel Porta got the Tigers started with a leadoff single to left field, Cameron Scheler was hit by a pitch and St. Xavier had runners at first and second with no outs.

Bierman notched a strike out to slow the rally, but St. Xavier’s Trey Sweeney then reached on an infield error and that loaded the bases.

A fielders’ choice by Christopher Esselman scored Porta to spoil the shutout, but Bierman followed that up with a strikeout to end the threat with a 5-1 lead.

“I just wanted to hit my spot and get out of the inning,” Bierman said.

For Coach Ellis, the effort against a nice team like St. Xavier is something to build on.

“The approach all of our guys had was solid,” he said. “Pitching, hitting and defense came together. It was a nice win all around.”

Jeff hosts Class 3A No. 1 Jasper this evening.

News & Tribune April 28, 2017
By TOM WHITUS sports@newsandtribune.com

News and Tribune Published 4-14-2017
JEFFERSONVILLE — Gabe Bierman pitched a complete game and led Jeffersonville to a 7-0 win over visiting Seymour on Thursday at Don Poole Field.

A junior Indiana University commit, Bierman struck out 15, walked one and allowed five hits in his seven innings on the mound.

“My stuff was working,” he said. “I had a my cutter all over the plate, pulling hitters over and striking them out. I guess it was a pretty good day.”

Jeff (2-3) coach Derek Ellis said Bierman was ready to pitch again after a hard-fought 5-1 loss to rival Floyd Central on April 4.

“He pitched well against Floyd Central. We didn’t play well behind him,” Ellis said. “I think he had a chip on his shoulder [Thursday]. He pitched great and it was one of the best performances I’ve seen so far in his high school career.”

Seymour (3-4) didn’t get the win, but it had two bright spots in the lineup. Alan Perry and Tyler Bloom were both 2-for-3 against Bierman, who was stingy on the mound.

“[Bloom] showed up,” Seymour coach Jeremy Richey said. “He threw against New Albany on Saturday and gives up one run in five innings. He’s shown up in some spots. We just have to put more together. We had five hits tonight. Alan had two in the leadoff spot and Tyler had two in the five spot. We have to be better against good pitchers.”

The hosts took control in the bottom of the second. Nick Grider, Hunter Schmitz, Michael Minton and Bennie Day touched home in the inning that saw Jeff take a 4-0 lead. Minton and Drew Taylor each had RBI hits in the second. Taylor was 3-for-3 on the night.

The Owls had a chance to respond in the top of the third, but failed to score. Tiller Cummings led off with a single. He was joined by Perry on base. The runners moved to second and third base on a throwing error from Jeff’s catcher. Cummings tried to take home on a wild pitch, but was tagged out at home by Bierman.

“I didn’t think we were aggressive early,” Richey said. “We were aggressive late, but when you let a kid like [Bierman] get in a rhythm, he’s going to be tough to beat.”

Jeff went down in order in the bottom of the third. Seymour’s Bloom singled with two outs in the top of the fourth but was stranded. The Owls left four runners on base Thursday.

The hosts’ lead grew in the bottom of the sixth. The first five Jeff batters reached safely as the Devils extended their lead to 7-0. The Owls held off the barrage early, forcing out Day and Taylor at third. The latter of the two outs came after a nice defensive stop at third from Seymour’s RJ Kleber.

Ethan English’s RBI single to left scored Jack Ellis. Bailey Falkenstein scored on a wild pitch and English made it 7-0 on a passed ball.

Perry led off the sixth with a hit for Seymour. He advanced to third after an error and a passed ball, but the three Owls that followed him all struck out.

Seymour starting pitcher Satoshi Hirose went five innings in the loss. He allowed 10 hits, walked two and struck out one.

Jeffersonville has a quick turnaround. The Devils travel to Charlestown tonight for a 6 p.m. start. Ellis hopes the all-around strong win over Seymour can get his team rolling.

“I think it’s big,” he said. “First of all, it’s a conference opponent. You’re going against guys you want to beat and it’s a good team. Hopefully, it gives them confidence. It should.”

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JEFFERSONVILLE 7, SEYMOUR 0

Seymour 000 000 0—0 5 0

Jeffersonville 040 030 x—7 10 2

W — Gabe Bierman (1-2). L — Satoshi Hirose. S — . 2B — Michael Minton (J). Records — Seymour 3-4, Jeffersonville 2-3.

justin.maskulinski@newsandtribune.com