DISTRICT V BASEBALL: Jeff/GRC thumps C-town to kick off 11-12 baseball division

By GREG MENGELT
sports@newsandtribune.com

June 29, 2008 01:15 am

— CHARLESTOWN — For Jeffersonville/GRC’s 11-12 All-Star baseball team, pitching and defense are givens.
If it hits, it’s hard telling how far it could go.
For the first three innings on Saturday, Jeff/GRC’s pitching was unhittable and its defense made the plays.
In the fourth inning, the bats came alive and Jeff put away Charlestown en route to a 13-1 win in the first game for both teams in the District V tournament.
Leading 4-0 in the top of the fourth inning, Josh Burke broke the game open with a three-run scoring double.
“I think that kind of broke the ice a little bit. I think our kids came out a little tight,” Jeff/GRC coach Derek Ellis said. “That’s normal for starting an All-Star (tournament). You’re a little nervous, a little jittery and I think that relaxed us going into the latter innings.”
Jeff’s pitching was in control all night. Fireballer Drew Ellis pitched the first 1 1/3 innings and struck out three Charlestown batters.
Dalton Duley then relieved Ellis, who is scheduled to start again Monday against Silver Creek. He threw 4 2/3 innings and struck out seven batters and didn’t allow a hit.
“I’m extremely proud of Dalton Duley,” Ellis said. “He struck out four times, but didn’t let that carry out to the mound. He still pitched a heck of a ballgame.”
Charlestown got its only hit and only run in the bottom of the sixth off of Jeff/GRC’s third pitcher, Christopher Wenger. Charlestown’s Danny Kent hit a one-out triple into right field, then scored on a wild pitch.
“He’s a fast kid and I’m glad he got the bat on the ball,” Charlestown coach Chris Sprinkle said of Kent.
Jeff’s three pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts.
Drew Ellis and Hayden Robb led Jeff offensively. Ellis had a solo home run in the sixth inning and also had two singles and scored twice. Robb went 2-for-2 and was hit by a pitch. He scored three times.
“We’re a very good hitting ballclub,” Coach Ellis said. “We really didn’t hit the ball the way we normally hit the ball (until late in the game).”
For Charlestown, it was a learning experience.
“We need to clean up a couple of things,” Sprinkle said. “We made more mental mistakes than physical mistakes and, I’ll tell you this, Jeff is just so strong.”
Charlestown will face seven-time defending District V champion New Albany on Monday. New Albany topped Highlander Youth Recreation 12-3 on Saturday.

Notebook
11-12 baseball
• Defending state champion New Albany looks like a contender again this season. In its opening game, it crushed HYR 12-3.
New Albany scored seven runs in the third inning. Tucker Marcum opened the inning with a home run, then Mick Wahking hit a grand slam to give New Albany an 8-0 lead.
New Albany had three home runs on the night. The other was a two-run shot by Kyle Landrum in the first inning.
“Our power is starting to come around,” New Albany coach Aaron Goad said.
• Silver Creek was Saturday’s other winner in the 11-12 tournament with an 8-1 win over Clarksville. Tyler Rogge had a solo home run and also walked and scored.
Garrett Caudill and Anthony Less combined to shut out Clarksville until Morgan Tackett led off the bottom of the sixth with a home run for Clarksville.

11-12 softball
• Behind the arm of Kasey Betz, Clarksville opened with a 5-1 victory over Charlestown. Betz struck out 10 Charlestown batters.

9-10 baseball
• Anthony Dickey pitched 5 1/3 shutout innings and struck out seven Clarksville batters as Jeff/GRC opened with a 12-0 win. Dickey surrendered just two hits and was assisted by Tre Watson, who went 4-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and three runs scored.

13-14 baseball
• Jeff/GRC scored a 15-3 win over Charlestown. Leading just 2-1 after two innings, Jeff scored nine times in the third inning to break the game open.
Aaron Wenger went the distance on the mound for Jeff. Tyler White went 2-for-2 with two doubles, two runs and two RBIs. Dalton Conway scored three times following a single and two walks.

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