Published: July 19, 2008 01:25 am      

LITTLE LEAGUE: Dale slam sends Jeff to state

JEFFERSONVILLE — Jeff/GRC’s Chandler Dale can probably sell his services as some sort of protection plan.

With Greenwood dead set against seeing Jeff/GRC star Drew Ellis beat them at the plate, Dale was provided with plenty of opportunities to help his team with his bat in Friday’s Section 6 Tournament at Woehrle Field.

Each time Ellis walked into the batter’s box, the Greenwood hurler was quick to issue four straight balls for an intentional walk.

All Dale did behind Ellis at the plate was hit a pivotal grand slam in the second inning and drive in another run, helping Jeff make the next week’s state tournament in Highland with a 7-1 victory to sweep the best-of-three series.

Trailing 1-0 with runners on first and third base in the second, Greenwood walked Ellis to load the bases for Dale, who promptly crushed a drive over the outfield fence to extend that advantage to 5-0.

“People want to believe that the best way to beat us is to take the bat out of Drew’s hand,” said Jeff/GRC head coach Derek Ellis. “But with the guys we have behind him in the lineup, we can still do quite a bit of damage.”

While Greenwood managed to control the damage caused by Ellis at the plate, he perhaps squashed the visitors’ best chance at a victory with his glove in the fifth inning.

Trailing 6-1, Greenwood loaded the bases with nobody out. Ellis then picked a line drive at shortstop and threw to third for a double play. After a Greenwood runner thought the inning was over and left first, he was picked off to complete a rare triple play and finished Greenwood’s threat.

“When you get into a bases-loaded, no-out situation like that, you’re just thinking of ways to limit them to one or two runs and stay in the lead,” Derek Ellis said. “You never expect a triple play like that. We would have taken the double play and been happy with it.”

Jeff/GRC also turned a double play with the bases loaded earlier in the game.

In contrast to Thursday’s series opener — when Jeff led 6-1 in the fifth inning before letting its opponent score five times in the final two frames to force extra innings — the hosts kept their opponents from mounting any serious rally in the final innings.

Jeff/GRC’s Ben Shahroudi homered and tossed the opening four innings, followed by Dale in a relief appearance. Dale tossed the final two innings of the win.

“The key for us is having pitchers who throw strikes,” said Derek Ellis. “If we give up baserunners with walks, we get ourselves in trouble. Both Ben and Chandler went out there and threw strikes and let our defense take care of the rest.”

Jeff/GRC hopes to become the second straight District V representative to bring home the state title after New Albany won it 2007.

The core of Jeff’s team won the state tournament last fall in the 11-year-old division.

“It’s not new to them. They’ve been to state before,” said Coach Ellis. “They’re ready. They can’t wait to see what happens.”