4/9/2009
By MATT CRESS
Matthew.Cress@newsandtribune.com
FLOYDS KNOBS — With its powerful and experienced lineup, the Jeffersonville baseball team was supposed to the be one to beat in the local area this season.
Instead, it was one of the Red Devils’ Hoosier Hills Conference rivals — Floyd Central — that came roaring out of the gates with a 3-0 start while Jeff opened at 1-2.
But if the balance of power was going to shift, one swing of Neil Fertig’s bat suggested otherwise.
The Jeff senior’s grand slam in the top of the third inning broke open a narrow game and brought the potent Red Devil offense to life. From there, Jeff tacked on three runs each in the fourth and fifth innings to score a 12-1 run-rule knockout of host Floyd Central on Wednesday night.
The Red Devils, held scoreless in their last outing against Lexington Tates Creek over the weekend, pounded out 12 hits and put up six runs each on Floyd starter Ryan Cain and reliever Joey Ehlers.
Cody Poole also homered for Jeff, crushing a three-run shot off Ehlers in the fourth.
“We’ve worked a lot on our hitting,” said Jeff coach Al Rabe. “I think we drove the ball tonight and that was the difference. We’ve been working hard on a lot of things and hopefully its paying off.”
Despite the final margin, it still took some time for Jeff to pull away from the Highlanders (3-1), who were coming off a successful weekend in which they won a defensive duel with South Dearborn and crushed Austin.
The Red Devils drew first blood on Cain, who struggled with his control early and yielded RBI singles to Poole and Fertig in the top of the first for a 2-0 advantage.
But Jeff starter Nick Politte issued walks to two of the first three batters he faced, which proved to be a problem when his defense seemingly deserted him. Sean O’Sullivan loaded the bases when Poole bobbled a routine grounder and the lone Floyd run — in the form of Tyler Amos — came home when John Boyle hit a grounder to John Jacobs that the third baseman couldn’t reel in.
Still, with one run already scored and the bases loaded, Politte fought his way out of the jam by getting Seth Huls on an infield fly and Jon Van Buren on a liner that was caught.
“It was a good outing for him (Politte),” said Rabe. “He needed it. He wasn’t gotten off to a great start, but he really settled down after the first couple of innings.”
That first inning, according to Highlander coach Casey LaDuke, is where the game turned for his squad.
“If Jon Van Buren hits it two or three feet to the left, maybe it’s 3-2 after the first and then everything is different,” he said. “Jeff is a good team. They’ve got guys who have been playing varsity ball since they were freshman. That’s the experience they have and they experience we are trying to get.”
Floyd had another chance to take the lead in the bottom of the second when Jimmy Orr led off with a walk and Tanner Wortham moved him into scoring position on a perfectly-placed bunt. Politte again got through unscathed — getting Amos to ground out and striking out Garrett Shanks — and would get all the offense he could hope for in the next frame.
Mitchel Mattingly singled to open the Jeff portion of the third, while Cain walked both Poole and Sam Burke. That brought up Fertig with no outs and he took one pitch for a ball before sending the next offering from Cain down the foul line in right field, emptying the Jeff dugout when it cleared the wall.
While Fertig was the obvious hero, Mattingly went 4-for-4 in the win, with a double, three runs, two RBI and two stolen bases. Politte also finished with a solid line, giving up just two hits in 4 2/3 innings with three walks and three strikeouts.
For the Highlanders and LaDuke it brought to mind memories of the past and a hope for the future.
“I remember a few years ago we beat them like this and then they beat us in the sectional,” LaDuke said. “We’ve got a lot of young kids here — the good news is that it’s early and we’ll see them (Jeff) again. And we’ll be much more experience by then.”
JEFFERSONVILLE 204 33—12 10 2
FLOYD CENTRAL 100 00— 1 2 1
WP — Politte. LP — Cain. 2B — Mattingly (J), Poole (J). HR — Poole (J), Fertig (J).
Records — Jeffersonville 2-2, Floyd Central 3-1.
|
«
Return to previous page
»
Send to a friend
|
|
| IHSAA - BASEBALL |
|
Alexander
Mitchell’s sacrifice fly to right field scored Spencer Anderson capping an
amazing comeback by Fort Wayne Snider in a 3-2 eight inning win in the Class 4A
state championship game at Victory ...
Read Full Story→
|
|
Drake
Everson of Fort Wayne Snider High School was recognized by members of the IHSAA
Executive Committee as this year’s recipient of the L.V. Phillips Mental
Attitude Award in Class 4A baseball.
...
Read Full Story→
|
|
Andrean
scored five runs through the first three innings and went on to post a 6-3
victory over West Vigo for the 3A state championship at Victory Field.
The
top-ranked 59ers (33-2) ...
Read Full Story→
|
| Baseball News |
1 to 20 of 44 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|