By KEVIN HARRIS
Kevin.Harris@newsandtribune.com
May 21, 2008 01:24 am
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NEW ALBANY — Once again, the Stan Sajko Invitational championship will go to either New Albany or Providence.
Both teams advanced to tonight’s title game of the 47th annual tournament by winning their respective first-round games on Tuesday at Mt. Tabor Field. The Bulldogs defeated Clarksville in the invitational opener 7-1, while the Pioneers beat North Harrison in the nightcap, 9-1.
New Albany and Providence will square off in the Sajko Invite final at about 7:30 tonight. They will meet in the championship for the fourth time in the last five years. Clarksville and North Harrison play in the consolation game at 5 p.m. today.
NEW ALBANY-CLARKSVILLE
The Generals (11-15) hung with New Albany for 3 1/2 innings, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. Starting pitcher Derick McNew smacked a two-out double to deep right field to knock in Robert Noe.
The Bulldogs (18-7) responded by posting six runs in the bottom half. Left fielder Nathan Poff tied the score at one by hitting a double down the left-field line to plate Travis Sands.
With two out, New Albany scored five runs thanks to two hits and two errors. Both miscues resulted in two runs, giving New Albany a 3-1 advantage.
Then junior Graham Brown hit a double to deep center to drive in three runs, extending the Bulldog lead to five.
“I don’t know if that was a wake-up call for the guys,” New Albany head coach Chris McIntyre said about the Generals grabbing the 1-0 lead. “We weren’t patient at all at the plate. But Graham came up with the big hit.”
Clarksville head coach Brian James thought it would’ve been a different ballgame if it was not for the errors.
“If we make the plays, it’s a 2-1 game,” James said.
Brown, Poff and teammates Jason Cruse and Taylor Klein each had two hits. Both of Poff’s hits were doubles and he scored twice.
Bulldog starter Jacob Jones improved his record to 5-0 in capturing the complete-game victory. The junior right-hander allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out eight.
“Jacob is not fancy or flashy,” McIntyre said. “He did a good job of throwing strikes and getting ahead of the hitters. He’s very consistent.”
James said his batters must get more aggressive at the plate.
“Offensively, we’re not as aggressive as we need to be,” James said. “We did not do a good job putting the ball in play.”
McNew earned the loss, giving up six runs on eight hits in four innings. He struck out two and walked one.
PROVIDENCE-NORTH HARRISON
Pioneer starter Josh Smith set the school record for career victories thanks to a solid six-inning outing. The senior yielded one run on two hits with seven strikeouts and a walk to record his 23rd career win.
“Terrific,” Providence head coach Scott Hornung said about Smith’s performance. “He just pitched a really good game, especially after the first inning. He was in control of his pitches. It was his best performance of the year.”
The Pioneers’ No. 2 and 3 hitters of Louis Schell and Johnelle Hardin combined to go 7-for-8. Hardin went 4-for-4 with five RBIs and three runs scored. He smacked a two-run home run in a four-run fourth inning.
Schell was 3-for-4, scored twice and had a stolen base. Providence (17-7) stole four bases.
“We got runners on base and got them home. That was the key to winning tonight,” Hornung said. “We did a good job using our team speed. We put pressure on their defense, and I was happy to see that.”
The Cougars’ Jim Bob Schuler was the losing pitcher. He went the distance, giving up nine runs on nine hits.
It was the first Sajko Invitational games since the tournament’s namesake passed away on April 24. Sajko was the Bulldogs’ skipper for 25 years, and he was inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984.
STAN SAJKO INVITATIONAL
FIRST ROUND
CLARKSVILLE 000 100 0—1 2 3
NEW ALBANY 000 610 x—7 10 1
W — Jones (5-0). L — McNew (2-5). 2B — McNew (C), Brown (N), Poff 2 (N).
Records — New Albany 18-7, Clarksville 11-15.
PROVIDENCE 220 400 1—9 9 3
N. HARRISON 100 000 0—1 2 4
W — Smith (6-1). L — Schuler. 2B — Erwin (P). HR — Hardin (P).
Records — Providence 17-7, North Harrison 11-10.
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