Wednesday, May 31, 2017

BASEBALL: Bulldogs down Borden in regular-season finale 9-2

By KEVIN HARRIS
NEW ALBANY – New Albany defeated visiting Borden in a make-up game May 22 at Mt. Tabor Field 9-2. It was the regular-season finale for the Bulldogs (16-9).
New Albany senior Logan Charbonneau earned the victory on the mound. In three innings, the right-hander allowed no runs on one hit and no walks. Charbonneau had three strikeouts as he improved his record to 5-1.
Sophomore Dylan Clark led the Bulldog sticks, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Three New Albany batters each went 2-for-4 in senior Jacob Mullins, junior Chase Rudy and sophomore Christian Sifers. Mullins had two RBIs and a double, while Sifers smacked two doubles.
Leading the Braves (14-6) at the plate were Travis Konerman going 2-for-3 and Cory Anderson going 2-for-4. Borden pitcher Brandon Thompson got the loss, yielding seven runs (four earned) on nine hits in four innings.

NEW ALBANY 9, BORDEN 2
Borden               002 000 0-2   5 5
New Albany        321 111 x-9 12 2
W – Logan Charbonneau (5-1). L – Brandon Thompson (2-3). 2B – Jacob Mullins (NA), Dylan Clark (NA), Christian Sifers 2 (NA).
Records – New Albany 16-9, Borden 14-6.


BASEBALL SHOWCASE: Bulldogs collect another Sajko Invitational title

By KEVIN HARRIS
NEW ALBANY – On May 20 at Mt. Tabor Field, the New Albany Bulldogs reclaimed a significant piece of hardware.
New Albany thumped North Harrison 17-4 in five innings to capture the final game of the Stan Sajko Invitational – the Bulldogs’ annual tournament that began in 1962. The tournament had a three-team, round-robin format this year with Corydon Central being the third squad.
“Overall, it was a pretty good day,” Bulldogs’ head coach Chris McIntyre said. “We swung the bats well. We were pretty loose at the plate, which was good to see.”
New Albany’s victory over the Cougars (9-13) gave it the Sajko Invite title with a 2-0 tournament record. It was the 13th consecutive time the Bulldogs (15-9) have claimed the crown when the tournament was played. The Sajko Invitational got canceled because of rain last year.
New Albany won the tournament opener on May 19 against Corydon 12-2 in six innings. In the second game May 20, Harrison County rival North Harrison downed the Panthers (13-11) 15-6.
The tournament is named after the legendary Sajko, who was the tournament founder and former New Albany head baseball coach and athletic director. When Sajko began the tourney in 1962, it was named the New Albany Invitational.
Sajko passed away in 2008. He was inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984.
The Sajko Invitational was a four-team tourney in recent years, but defending Class 2A state champion Providence dropped out of the tournament this year.
McIntyre says it is essential that the Sajko Invite gets a fourth team in the future.
“Only having three teams loses a little bit of its tournament-type feeling,” McIntyre said. “We’ve got to get another team in here and make it have a little more tournament feeling to it. It probably doesn’t feel quite the same as it normally does when it has four teams in it.”
Leading 2-1 after 2 ½ innings, the Bulldogs turned the final game into a blowout versus North Harrison with five runs in the third and 10 in the fourth to go up 17-1. The Cougars plated three runs in the top of the fifth.
New Albany junior Ryan Robison was a single away from the cycle. He went 3-for-3 with a double, a triple and a first-inning solo home run. Robison ended up with four RBIs.
Teammate Chase Rudy was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Bulldog freshman Andrew Ricketts drove in three runs, while New Albany’s Jordan Cooper and Steven Thom each had two RBIs.
New Albany starter Owen Tanksley got the victory, improving his record to 3-1. The sophomore left-hander pitched four innings, yielding a run (earned) on four hits. Tanksley recorded three strikeouts and three walks. The Bulldogs committed one error.
“We were pretty solid,” McIntyre said. “Defensively, we were pretty clean. Owen struggled a little bit with his control. We helped him out a little bit with a double play early in the game when it was still close.”
North Harrison starter Max Flock was the losing pitcher, while collecting two RBIs at the plate.

STAN SAJKO INVITATIONAL
NEW ALBANY 17, NORTH HARRISON 4, 5 INNINGS
N. Harrison       100      03-  4  7 4
New Albany       115 (10)x-17 14 1
W – Owen Tanksley (3-1). L – Max Flock. 2B – Paul Moberly (NH), Jake Morin (NH), Dylan Clark (NA), Chase Rudy (NA), Ryan Robison (NA), Jordan Cooper (NA). 3B – Robison (NA). HR – Robison (NA).
Records – New Albany 15-9, North Harrison 9-13.


POSTSEASON UPDATE

(As of 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, May 31)
BASEBALL
CLASS 4A BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, May 25
New Albany 1, Jeffersonville 0
Floyd Central 5, Seymour 1
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, May 27
Floyd Central 6, New Albany 5
Bedford North Lawrence 7, Jennings County 1
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Bedford North Lawrence 9, Floyd Central 3

CLASS 3A SILVER CREEK SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, May 25
Silver Creek 3, Charlestown 1
Friday, May 26
Brownstown Central 9, North Harrison 7
Corydon Central 6, Salem 1
SEMIFINALS
Monday, May 29
Silver Creek 2, Scottsburg 1
Corydon Central 4, Brownstown Central 0
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Silver Creek 13, Corydon Central 5

CLASS 2A PROVIDENCE SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, May 25
Providence 16, Eastern 2, 5 innings
Henryville 7, Paoli 1
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, May 27
Providence 11, Henryville 1, 5 innings
Clarksville 9, Crawford County 2
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Providence 12, Clarksville 2, 5 innings

CLASS A SOUTH CENTRAL SECTIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, May 27
Borden 4, South Central 1
Lanesville 14, New Washington 1, 5 innings
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Lanesville 1, Borden 0

REGIONAL PAIRINGS
SATURDAY, JUNE 3
CLASS 4A EVANSVILLE REITZ REGIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Bedford North Lawrence vs. Evansville Central, 11 a.m. EDT
Martinsville vs. Columbus North, 1:30 p.m. EDT
CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m. EDT

CLASS 3A NORTH HARRISON REGIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Jasper vs. Silver Creek, 11 a.m.
Boonville vs. Lawrenceburg, 1:30 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal winners, 8 p.m.

CLASS 2A PROVIDENCE REGIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Linton-Stockton vs. South Spencer, 11 a.m.
Providence vs. Austin, 1 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

CLASS A LOOGOOTEE REGIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Lanesville vs. Loogootee, 11 a.m.
Northeast Dubois vs. Trinity Lutheran, 1 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal winners, 8 p.m.

SOFTBALL
CLASS 4A FLOYD CENTRAL SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Monday, May 22
Seymour 9, Jeffersonville 5
Jennings County 11, Bedford North Lawrence 0, 6 innings
SEMIFINALS
Tuesday, May 23
Seymour 3, Jennings County 1
Floyd Central 10, New Albany 0
CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday, May 26
Floyd Central 1, Seymour 0

CLASS 3A SCOTTSBURG SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Monday, May 22
Silver Creek 9, Scottsburg 0
Tuesday, May 23
Salem 9, Brownstown Central 0
Corydon Central 5, Charlestown 0
SEMIFINALS
Friday, May 26
Silver Creek 10, North Harrison 0, 5 innings
Salem 6, Corydon Central 1
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Silver Creek 3, Salem 2, 8 innings

CLASS 2A PAOLI SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, May 23
Crawford County 17, Eastern 3
Paoli 14, Clarksville 2, 5 innings
SEMIFINALS
Thursday, May 25
Paoli 8, Crawford County 1
Henryville 13, Providence 0, 5 innings
CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday, May 26
Henryville 8, Paoli 0

CLASS A LANESVILLE SECTIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Monday, May 22
Lanesville 16, New Washington 0, 5 innings
Borden 10, South Central 0, 6 innings
CHAMPIONSHIP
Thursday, May 25
Lanesville 3, Borden 2

REGIONAL PAIRINGS
Tuesday, May 30
CLASS 4A
Gibson Southern 2, Floyd Central 1
CLASS 3A
Silver Creek 6, Connersville 5
CLASS 2A
Henryville 4, Milan 3
CLASS A
Lanesville 6, Orleans 0

SEMISTATE PAIRINGS
Saturday, June 3
CLASS 4A BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE SEMISTATE
SEMIFINALS
Avon vs. Greenfield-Central, 11 a.m.
Center Grove vs. Gibson Southern, 1 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

CLASS 3A JASPER SEMISTATE
SEMIFINALS
Edgewood vs. New Palestine, 11 a.m.
Evansville Memorial vs. Silver Creek, 1 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

CLASS 2A FOREST PARK SEMISTATE
SEMIFINALS
Indianapolis Scecina vs. South Spencer, 11 a.m.
Northeastern vs. Henryville, 1 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.                     

CLASS A NORTH DAVIESS SEMISTATE
SEMIFINALS
Edinburgh vs. Indianapolis Lutheran, 11 a.m.
Lanesville vs. Tecumseh, 1 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

GIRLS’ TENNIS
SILVER CREEK REGIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Tuesday, May 23
New Albany 5, Silver Creek 0
Providence 5, Floyd Central 0
CHAMPIONSHIP
Thursday, May 25
Providence 5, New Albany 0

JASPER SEMISTATE 1
Saturday, May 27
Providence 3, Columbus North 2

JASPER SEMISTATE 2
Saturday, May 27
Jasper 4, Evansville Memorial 1

IHSAA STATE FINALS
QUARTERFINALS
Friday, June 2
At Carmel
Providence (19-0) vs. Center Grove (20-2), 3 p.m.
Jasper (17-4) vs. South Bend St. Joseph (23-1), 3 p.m.
At Center Grove
Terre Haute South (23-2) vs. Carmel (16-1), 3 p.m.
Indianapolis Cathedral (20-1) vs. Fort Wayne Carroll (19-3), 3 p.m.
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, June 3
At Indianapolis North Central
Providence or Center Grove vs. Jasper or South Bend St. Joseph, 10 a.m.
Terre Haute South or Carmel vs. Indianapolis Cathedral or Fort Wayne Carroll, 10 a.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, June 3
At Indianapolis North Central
Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.


Tuesday, May 30, 2017

POSTSEASON UPDATE

(As of 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 30)
BASEBALL
CLASS 4A BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, May 25
New Albany 1, Jeffersonville 0
Floyd Central 5, Seymour 1
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, May 27
Floyd Central 6, New Albany 5
Bedford North Lawrence 7, Jennings County 1
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Bedford North Lawrence 9, Floyd Central 3

CLASS 3A SILVER CREEK SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, May 25
Silver Creek 3, Charlestown 1
Friday, May 26
Brownstown Central 9, North Harrison 7
Corydon Central 6, Salem 1
SEMIFINALS
Monday, May 29
Silver Creek 2, Scottsburg 1
Corydon Central 4, Brownstown Central 0
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Silver Creek 13, Corydon Central 5

CLASS 2A PROVIDENCE SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, May 25
Providence 16, Eastern 2, 5 innings
Henryville 7, Paoli 1
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, May 27
Providence 11, Henryville 1, 5 innings
Clarksville 9, Crawford County 2
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Providence 12, Clarksville 2, 5 innings

CLASS A SOUTH CENTRAL SECTIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, May 27
Borden 4, South Central 1
Lanesville 14, New Washington 1, 5 innings
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Lanesville 1, Borden 0

REGIONAL PAIRINGS
SATURDAY, JUNE 3
CLASS 4A EVANSVILLE REITZ REGIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Bedford North Lawrence vs. Evansville Central, 11 a.m. EDT
Martinsville vs. Columbus North, 1:30 p.m. EDT
CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m. EDT

CLASS 3A NORTH HARRISON REGIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Jasper vs. Silver Creek, 11 a.m.
Boonville vs. Lawrenceburg, 1:30 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal winners, 8 p.m.

CLASS 2A PROVIDENCE REGIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Linton-Stockton vs. South Spencer, 11 a.m.
Providence vs. Austin, 1 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

CLASS A LOOGOOTEE REGIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Lanesville vs. Loogootee, 11 a.m.
Northeast Dubois vs. Trinity Lutheran, 1 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal winners, 8 p.m.

SOFTBALL
CLASS 4A FLOYD CENTRAL SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Monday, May 22
Seymour 9, Jeffersonville 5
Jennings County 11, Bedford North Lawrence 0, 6 innings
SEMIFINALS
Tuesday, May 23
Seymour 3, Jennings County 1
Floyd Central 10, New Albany 0
CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday, May 26
Floyd Central 1, Seymour 0

CLASS 3A SCOTTSBURG SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Monday, May 22
Silver Creek 9, Scottsburg 0
Tuesday, May 23
Salem 9, Brownstown Central 0
Corydon Central 5, Charlestown 0
SEMIFINALS
Friday, May 26
Silver Creek 10, North Harrison 0, 5 innings
Salem 6, Corydon Central 1
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Silver Creek 3, Salem 2, 8 innings

CLASS 2A PAOLI SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, May 23
Crawford County 17, Eastern 3
Paoli 14, Clarksville 2, 5 innings
SEMIFINALS
Thursday, May 25
Paoli 8, Crawford County 1
Henryville 13, Providence 0, 5 innings
CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday, May 26
Henryville 8, Paoli 0

CLASS A LANESVILLE SECTIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Monday, May 22
Lanesville 16, New Washington 0, 5 innings
Borden 10, South Central 0, 6 innings
CHAMPIONSHIP
Thursday, May 25
Lanesville 3, Borden 2

REGIONAL PAIRINGS
Tuesday, May 30
CLASS 4A
Floyd Central at Gibson Southern, 7 p.m. EST
CLASS 3A
Connersville at Silver Creek, 6 p.m.
CLASS 2A
Milan at Henryville, 6 p.m.
CLASS A
Orleans at Lanesville, 7 p.m.

GIRLS’ TENNIS
SILVER CREEK REGIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Tuesday, May 23
New Albany 5, Silver Creek 0
Providence 5, Floyd Central 0
CHAMPIONSHIP
Thursday, May 25
Providence 5, New Albany 0

JASPER SEMISTATE 1
Saturday, May 27
Providence 3, Columbus North 2

JASPER SEMISTATE 2
Saturday, May 27
Jasper 4, Evansville Memorial 1

IHSAA STATE FINALS
QUARTERFINALS
Friday, June 2
At Carmel
Providence (19-0) vs. Center Grove (20-2), 3 p.m.
Jasper (17-4) vs. South Bend St. Joseph (23-1), 3 p.m.
At Center Grove
Terre Haute South (23-2) vs. Carmel (16-1), 3 p.m.
Indianapolis Cathedral (20-1) vs. Fort Wayne Carroll (19-3), 3 p.m.
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, June 3
At Indianapolis North Central
Providence or Center Grove vs. Jasper or South Bend St. Joseph, 10 a.m.
Terre Haute South or Carmel vs. Indianapolis Cathedral or Fort Wayne Carroll, 10 a.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, June 3
At Indianapolis North Central
Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.

Sunday, May 28, 2017

POSTSEASON UPDATE

(As of 10:30 p.m. Sunday, May 28)
BASEBALL
CLASS 4A BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, May 25
New Albany 1, Jeffersonville 0
Floyd Central 5, Seymour 1
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, May 27
Floyd Central 6, New Albany 5
Bedford North Lawrence 7, Jennings County 1
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Floyd Central vs. Bedford North Lawrence, 2 p.m.

CLASS 3A SILVER CREEK SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, May 25
Silver Creek 3, Charlestown 1
Friday, May 26
Brownstown Central 9, North Harrison 7
Corydon Central 6, Salem 1
SEMIFINALS
Monday, May 29
Scottsburg vs. Silver Creek, 11 a.m.
Brownstown Central vs. Corydon Central, 1 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.

CLASS 2A PROVIDENCE SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, May 25
Providence 16, Eastern 2, 5 innings
Henryville 7, Paoli 1
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, May 27
Providence 11, Henryville 1, 5 innings
Clarksville 9, Crawford County 2
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Providence vs. Clarksville, 11 a.m.

CLASS A SOUTH CENTRAL SECTIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, May 27
Borden 4, South Central 1
Lanesville 14, New Washington 1, 5 innings
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Borden vs. Lanesville, 11 a.m.

SOFTBALL
CLASS 4A FLOYD CENTRAL SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Monday, May 22
Seymour 9, Jeffersonville 5
Jennings County 11, Bedford North Lawrence 0, 6 innings
SEMIFINALS
Tuesday, May 23
Seymour 3, Jennings County 1
Floyd Central 10, New Albany 0
CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday, May 26
Floyd Central 1, Seymour 0

CLASS 3A SCOTTSBURG SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Monday, May 22
Silver Creek 9, Scottsburg 0
Tuesday, May 23
Salem 9, Brownstown Central 0
Corydon Central 5, Charlestown 0
SEMIFINALS
Friday, May 26
Silver Creek 10, North Harrison 0, 5 innings
Salem 6, Corydon Central 1
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Silver Creek vs. Salem, 11 a.m. (postponed Saturday)

CLASS 2A PAOLI SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, May 23
Crawford County 17, Eastern 3
Paoli 14, Clarksville 2, 5 innings
SEMIFINALS
Thursday, May 25
Paoli 8, Crawford County 1
Henryville 13, Providence 0, 5 innings
CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday, May 26
Henryville 8, Paoli 0

CLASS A LANESVILLE SECTIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Monday, May 22
Lanesville 16, New Washington 0, 5 innings
Borden 10, South Central 0, 6 innings
CHAMPIONSHIP
Thursday, May 25
Lanesville 3, Borden 2

REGIONAL PAIRINGS
Tuesday, May 30
CLASS 4A
Floyd Central at Gibson Southern, 7 p.m. EST
CLASS 3A
Connersville at Silver Creek or Salem, 7 p.m.
CLASS 2A
Milan at Henryville, 5:45 p.m.
CLASS A
Orleans at Lanesville, 7 p.m.

GIRLS’ TENNIS
SILVER CREEK REGIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Tuesday, May 23
New Albany 5, Silver Creek 0
Providence 5, Floyd Central 0
CHAMPIONSHIP
Thursday, May 25
Providence 5, New Albany 0

JASPER SEMISTATE 1
Saturday, May 27
Providence 3, Columbus North 2

JASPER SEMISTATE 2
Saturday, May 27
Jasper 4, Evansville Memorial 1

IHSAA STATE FINALS
QUARTERFINALS
Friday, June 2
At Carmel
Providence (19-0) vs. Center Grove (20-2), 3 p.m.
Jasper (17-4) vs. South Bend St. Joseph (23-1), 3 p.m.
At Center Grove
Terre Haute South (23-2) vs. Carmel (16-1), 3 p.m.
Indianapolis Cathedral (20-1) vs. Fort Wayne Carroll (19-3), 3 p.m.
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, June 3
At Indianapolis North Central
Providence or Center Grove vs. Jasper or South Bend St. Joseph, 10 a.m.
Terre Haute South or Carmel vs. Indianapolis Cathedral or Fort Wayne Carroll, 10 a.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, June 3
At Indianapolis North Central
Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.

Friday, May 26, 2017

BASEBALL: Red Devils beat South in regular-season finale 9-5

By KEVIN HARRIS
JEFFERSONVILLE –  Jeffersonville concluded its regular season last Saturday at Don Poole Field with a 9-5 victory over Bloomington South.
The game was originally scheduled to be a part of a split doubleheader for the Red Devils (15-8) in Bloomington between both Bloomington South and Bloomington North. But because of rain, Jeff and South decided to move their game to Poole Field, with the Panthers as the home team on the scoreboard. The Red Devils’ contest with Bloomington North was canceled.
Sophomore Drew Taylor led Jeff at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs scored. Teammate Hunter Schmitz was 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Red Devil starter Gabe Bierman went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Jeff sophomore Jack Ellis was 2-for-4 with a home run, five RBIs and a run scored. Teammate Jacob Cochrum ended up 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
Bierman got the win on the mound. In three innings, the junior yielded three runs (all earned) on six hits with three strikeouts and no walks.
Cochrum relieved Bierman in the fourth inning and pitched three scoreless frames. Cochrum gave up two hits and no walks while striking out two.

JEFFERSONVILLE 9, BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 5
Jeff               130 050 0-9 15 1
Bl. South      021 000 2-5 12 0
W – Gabe Bierman. L – May. 2B – Drew Taylor 2 (J), Jacob Cochrum (J), Trent Richandon (BS), Looze 2 (BS), Franklin (BS). HR – Jack Ellis (J).
Records – Jeff 15-8. 

BASEBALL: Bulldogs win Sajko Invitational opener 12-2

By KEVIN HARRIS
NEW ALBANY – New Albany won the opener of its annual tournament - the Stan Sajko Invitational – last Friday at Mt. Tabor Field with a 12-2 victory in six innings over visiting Corydon Central. The tournament had a three-team, round-robin format this season.
Three Bulldogs (14-9) produced 2-for-3 performances in juniors Chase Rudy and Ryan Robison and sophomore Dylan Clark. Robison had a double, a triple and five RBIs. Clark had a triple and two RBIs and Rudy collected an RBI.
New Albany senior Logan Charbonneau was the winning pitcher, upping his record to 4-1. In five innings, Charbonneau allowed two runs (both unearned) on five hits. He struck out seven and did not issue a walk.
With the score tied at two, the Bulldogs took the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to go up 5-2. New Albany forced the 10-run mercy rule in the bottom of the sixth with seven runs.
Jordan Ripperdan went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs for Corydon (13-10). Teammate Logan Daily was the losing pitcher, giving up eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits in five innings. Daily struck out three and walked one.

STAN SAJKO INVITATIONAL
GAME 1
NEW ALBANY 12, CORYDON CENTRAL 2, 6 INNINGS
Corydon Cen.       000 020-  2   6 2
New Albany          011 037-12 10 1
W – Logan Charbonneau (4-1). L – Logan Daily. 2B – Jordan Ripperdan (CC), Ryan Robison (NA), Cody Medley (NA). 3B – Robison (NA), Dylan Clark (NA).
Records – New Albany 14-9, Corydon Central 13-10. 

SOFTBALL: Schoenfeld, Bulldogs blank Clarksville 5-0

By KEVIN HARRIS
CLARKSVILLE – In a game that lasted just three innings, New Albany defeated host Clarksville last Friday at Hauber Field 5-0.
New Albany starter Bri Schoenfeld pitched a three-hit shutout to earn the win. The sophomore right-hander recorded four strikeouts and one walk.
Bulldog freshman Jewel Cunningham went 2-for-2 with a run scored and a stolen base. Also for New Albany (11-14), Madison Lawson scored two runs and Riley Case had two RBIs.
The Bulldogs got off to a fast start, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. They added a run in the top of the second.

NEW ALBANY 5, CLARKSVILLE 0
New Albany                  410-5 7 0
Clarksville                    000-0 3 2
W – Bri Schoenfeld (6-10).
Records – New Albany 11-14.

POSTSEASON UPDATE

(As of 9 a.m. Friday, May 26)
BASEBALL
CLASS 4A BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, May 25
New Albany 1, Jeffersonville 0
Floyd Central 5, Seymour 1
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, May 27
New Albany vs. Floyd Central, 1 p.m.
Bedford North Lawrence vs. Jennings County, 4 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.

CLASS 3A SILVER CREEK SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, May 25
Silver Creek 3, Charlestown 1
Friday, May 26
North Harrison vs. Brownstown Central, 5:30 p.m.
Salem vs. Corydon Central, 7:30 p.m.
SEMIFINALS
Monday, May 29
Scottsburg vs. Silver Creek, 11 a.m.
North Harrison or Brownstown Central vs. Salem or Corydon Central, 1 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.

CLASS 2A PROVIDENCE SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, May 25
Providence 16, Eastern 2, 5 innings
Henryville 7, Paoli 1
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, May 27
Providence vs. Henryville, 10 a.m.
Clarksville vs. Crawford County, noon
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Semifinal winners, 11 a.m.

CLASS A SOUTH CENTRAL SECTIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, May 27
Borden vs. South Central, 11 a.m.
Lanesville vs. New Washington, 1 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Semifinal winners, 11 a.m.

SOFTBALL
CLASS 4A FLOYD CENTRAL SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Monday, May 22
Seymour 9, Jeffersonville 5
Jennings County 11, Bedford North Lawrence 0, 6 innings
SEMIFINALS
Tuesday, May 23
Seymour 3, Jennings County 1
Floyd Central 10, New Albany 0
CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday, May 26
Seymour vs. Floyd Central, 7 p.m. (postponed Thursday)

CLASS 3A SCOTTSBURG SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Monday, May 22
Silver Creek 9, Scottsburg 0
Tuesday, May 23
Salem 9, Brownstown Central 0
Corydon Central 5, Charlestown 0
SEMIFINALS
Friday, May 26
North Harrison vs. Silver Creek, 5:30 p.m. (postponed Wednesday and Thursday)
Salem vs. Corydon Central, 7:30 p.m. (postponed Wednesday and Thursday)
CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal winners, date and time TBD

CLASS 2A PAOLI SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, May 23
Crawford County 17, Eastern 3
Paoli 14, Clarksville 2, 5 innings
SEMIFINALS
Thursday, May 25
Paoli 8, Crawford County 1
Henryville 13, Providence 0, 5 innings
CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday, May 26
Paoli vs. Henryville, 6 p.m.

CLASS A LANESVILLE SECTIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Monday, May 22
Lanesville 16, New Washington 0, 5 innings
Borden 10, South Central 0, 6 innings
CHAMPIONSHIP
Thursday, May 25
Lanesville 3, Borden 2

GIRLS’ TENNIS
SILVER CREEK REGIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Tuesday, May 23
New Albany 5, Silver Creek 0
Providence 5, Floyd Central 0
CHAMPIONSHIP
Thursday, May 25
Providence 5, New Albany 0

JASPER SEMISTATE 1
Saturday, May 27
Providence (18-0) vs. Columbus North (20-4), noon

JASPER SEMISTATE 2
Saturday, May 27
Jasper (16-4) vs. Evansville Memorial (17-3), noon
(Note: Winners of the two Jasper Semistates will not meet in the quarterfinals of the IHSAA State Finals on Friday, June 2.)

Thursday, May 25, 2017

BASEBALL SECTIONAL PICKS

By KEVIN HARRIS
JEFFERSONVILLE – After making my softball sectional predictions earlier in the week, here are my picks for this week’s area baseball sectionals.
As I said when I made my prognostications for the softball sectionals, the following picks are for recreational purposes and my best education guesses.
I am doing most of these predications based on paper, as I have not covered more than 90 percent of these teams this season because of my current job situation.
Please do not take these personal.

CLASS 4A BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Jeffersonville def. New Albany
Floyd Central def. Seymour
SEMIFINALS
Jeff def. Floyd Central
Bedford North Lawrence def. Jennings County
CHAMPIONSHIP
Jeff def. BNL
Note: If the head coaches tell you that anybody can beat anybody in this sectional, like they usually say every year about this sectional, believe them. I truly believe this sectional is a toss-up this year and most of the games are going to be close and ultra-competitive. These picks are definitely not set in stone.

CLASS 3A SILVER CREEK SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Silver Creek def. Charlestown
Brownstown Central def. North Harrison
Salem def. Corydon Central
SEMIFINALS
Silver Creek def. Scottsburg
Brownstown Central def. Salem
CHAMPIONSHIP
Silver Creek def. Brownstown Central

CLASS 2A PROVIDENCE SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Providence def. Eastern
Henryville def. Paoli
SEMIFINALS
Providence def. Henryville
Clarksville def. Crawford County
CHAMPIONSHIP
Providence def. Clarksville

CLASS A SOUTH CENTRAL SECTIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Borden def. South Central
Lanesville def. New Washington
CHAMPIONSHIP
Lanesville def. Borden

POSTSEASON UPDATE

(As of 1 p.m. Thursday, May 25)
BASEBALL
CLASS 4A BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, May 25
Jeffersonville vs. New Albany, 6 p.m. (postponed Wednesday)
Floyd Central vs. Seymour, 8 p.m. (postponed Wednesday)
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, May 27
First-round winners, 1 p.m.
Bedford North Lawrence vs. Jennings County, 4 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.

CLASS 3A SILVER CREEK SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, May 25
Charlestown vs. Silver Creek, 6 p.m. (postponed Wednesday)
Friday, May 26
North Harrison vs. Brownstown Central, 5:30 p.m.
Salem vs. Corydon Central, 7:30 p.m.
SEMIFINALS
Monday, May 29
Scottsburg vs. Charlestown or Silver Creek, 11 a.m.
North Harrison or Brownstown Central vs. Salem or Corydon Central, 1 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.

CLASS 2A PROVIDENCE SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, May 25
Eastern vs. Providence, 5 p.m. (postponed Wednesday)
Henryville vs. Paoli, 7 p.m. (postponed Wednesday)
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, May 27
First-round winners, 10 a.m.
Clarksville vs. Crawford County, noon
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Semifinal winners, 11 a.m.

CLASS A SOUTH CENTRAL SECTIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, May 27
Borden vs. South Central, 11 a.m.
Lanesville vs. New Washington, 1 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Semifinal winners, 11 a.m.

SOFTBALL
CLASS 4A FLOYD CENTRAL SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Monday, May 22
Seymour 9, Jeffersonville 5
Jennings County 11, Bedford North Lawrence 0, 6 innings
SEMIFINALS
Tuesday, May 23
Seymour 3, Jennings County 1
Floyd Central 10, New Albany 0
CHAMPIONSHIP
Thursday, May 25
Seymour vs. Floyd Central, 7 p.m.

CLASS 3A SCOTTSBURG SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Monday, May 22
Silver Creek 9, Scottsburg 0
Tuesday, May 23
Salem 9, Brownstown Central 0
Corydon Central 5, Charlestown 0
SEMIFINALS
Thursday, May 25
North Harrison vs. Silver Creek, 5:30 p.m. (postponed Wednesday)
Salem vs. Corydon Central, 7:30 p.m. (postponed Wednesday)
CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday, May 26
Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.

CLASS 2A PAOLI SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, May 23
Crawford County 17, Eastern 3
Paoli 14, Clarksville 2, 5 innings
SEMIFINALS
Thursday, May 25
Crawford County vs. Paoli, 5 p.m.
Henryville vs. Providence, 7 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday, May 26
Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.

CLASS A LANESVILLE SECTIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Monday, May 22
Lanesville 16, New Washington 0, 5 innings
Borden 10, South Central 0, 6 innings
CHAMPIONSHIP
Thursday, May 25
Lanesville vs. Borden, 6 p.m. (postponed Wednesday)

GIRLS’ TENNIS
SILVER CREEK REGIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Tuesday, May 23
New Albany 5, Silver Creek 0
Providence 5, Floyd Central 0
CHAMPIONSHIP
Thursday, May 25
New Albany vs. Providence, 4:30 p.m. (Providence led 2-0 Wednesday before match was suspended because of rain.)

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

BASEBALL: Jeff-NA sectional matchup postponed to Thursday

By KEVIN HARRIS
BEDFORD – Wednesday’s first-round games of the Class 4A Bedford North Lawrence Sectional have been postponed because of rain.
Those two contests have been rescheduled for Thursday at Stars Field. Rivals Jeffersonville (15-8) and New Albany (16-9) will meet in the sectional opener at 6 p.m. The second game will take place at about 8 p.m. between Floyd Central (14-8) and Seymour (15-8).
The winners of Thursday’s games will meet in the first semifinal at 1 p.m. Saturday. Saturday’s second semifinal will be at approximately 4 p.m. as Class 4A No. 6 Bedford North Lawrence (20-4) faces Jennings County (9-11). The championship is slated for 2 p.m. Monday.
Jeff and New Albany have faced each other twice this season. The Bulldogs won 3-1 at Jeff on April 19. The Red Devils returned the favor on May 10 at New Albany with a 12-5 victory in the Hoosier Hills Conference Tournament semifinal. Jeff proceeded to defeat BNL in the HHC Tournament title game on May 12 at Stars Field 3-2 in 13 innings.
Thursday’s sectional opener will be a rematch of last year’s Class 4A Floyd Central Sectional championship game. New Albany defeated Jeff in that game 1-0.

CLASS 4A BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, May 25
Jeffersonville (15-8) vs. New Albany (16-9), 6 p.m. (postponed Wednesday)
Floyd Central (14-8) vs. Seymour (15-8), 8 p.m. (postponed Wednesday)
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, May 27
First-round winners, 1 p.m.
Bedford North Lawrence (20-4) vs. Jennings County (9-11), 4 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 29
Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

SOFTBALL: Coons leads Jeff past North Harrison 5-2

By KEVIN HARRIS
RAMSEY – Lizzy Coons’ bat propelled visiting Jeffersonville to a 5-2 victory at North Harrison last Thursday.
The sophomore went 4-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Coons also earned the save, allowing one run (unearned) on two hits. She had two strikeouts and two walks.
Jeff junior Faith Denig was 2-for-3 and teammate Lindsey Nelson scored two runs.
Red Devil starter Mackenzie Brockwell got her second victory of the 2017 season. In four innings, the junior gave up one run (earned) on three hits with a strikeout and a walk.
Leading 2-1 in the top of the seventh inning, Jeff (12-12) gave itself a cushion against the Lady Cats (11-10). The Red Devils scored three runs in the frame to go up 5-1.
North Harrison will face Silver Creek in the first semifinal of the Class 3A Scottsburg Sectional at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Note: The Red Devils’ home game versus Louisville Male last Friday got called off in the top of the fifth inning because of multiple lightning strikes in the area. Jeff led 7-1 at the time. It was the Red Devils’ regular-season finale.

JEFFERSONVILLE 5, NORTH HARRISON 2
Jeff                       000 110 3-5 12 1
N. Harrison          000 100 1-2   5 4
W – Mackenzie Brockwell (2-0). 2B – Lizzy Coons (J). S – Coons (1).
Records – Jeff 12-12, North Harrison 11-10.

SOFTBALL: Bulldogs break four-game skid with 6-4 win over Corydon

By KEVIN HARRIS
NEW ALBANY – New Albany snapped a four-game losing streak last Thursday at Prosser Field by defeating visiting Corydon Central 6-4. It was the Bulldogs’ Senior Night.
Terah Crosier led the Bulldog bats, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. New Albany pitcher Bri Schoenfeld helped her cause at the plate with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Schoenfeld collected her fifth win of the season with a complete-game performance. The right-hander surrendered four runs (two earned) on seven hits. Schoenfeld struck out three and walked one.
Sophomore Cami Schmitt was the Panthers’ only multihit player, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Corydon starter Kaleigh Oskin got the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) on nine hits.
The Panthers (18-7) will face Charlestown in the opening round of the Class 3A Scottsburg Sectional at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

NEW ALBANY 6, CORYDON CENTRAL 4
Corydon Cen.           002 002 0-4 7 2
New Albany              001 311 x-6 9 3
W – Bri Schoenfeld (5-10). L – Kaleigh Oskin. 2B – Grace Carver (CC). 3B – Sydney Oskin (CC).
Records – New Albany 10-14, Corydon Central 18-7.

BASEBALL: Dogs lose at North Oldham on bases-loaded walk 2-1

By KEVIN HARRIS
GOSHEN, Ky. – Host North Oldham scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning last Thursday to defeat New Albany 2-1.
The Mustangs’ Joe Bryant started the game-winning sequence by smacking a one-out double against New Albany starter Chase Rudy. After the Bulldogs (13-9) intentionally walked Brendan McAfee, North Oldham’s Max Sander got on base with an infield single to load the bases.
Rudy then walked the Mustangs’ Cameron Masterson to plate Bryant for the game-winning run. North Oldham improved to 18-12.
Rudy’s record fell to 0-4. In 6 1/3 innings of work, the junior yielded two runs (one earned) on seven hits. Rudy struck out 10 and walked one.
Fellow New Albany junior Ryan Robison went 2-for-3, as both hits were doubles.

NORTH OLDHAM (Ky.) 2, NEW ALBANY 1
New Albany          100 000 0-1 5 1
N. Oldham           010 000 1-2 7 2
W – Ty White. L – Chase Rudy (0-4). 2B – Ryan Robison 2 (NA), Joe Bryant (NO).
Records – New Albany 13-9, North Oldham 18-12.

Monday, May 22, 2017

SOFTBALL SECTIONAL PICKS

By KEVIN HARRIS
JEFFERSONVILLE – The following is my predictions for this week’s area softball sectionals.
FYI, these picks are truly for recreational purposes – i.e. just for fun – and they are my best educated guesses even though I have not watched 95 percent of these teams play this season.
Please do not take them personal.

CLASS 4A FLOYD CENTRAL SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Jeffersonville def. Seymour (upset special)
Bedford North Lawrence def. Jennings County
SEMIFINALS
BNL def. Jeff
Floyd Central def. New Albany
CHAMPIONSHIP
Floyd Central def. BNL

CLASS 3A SCOTTSBURG SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Silver Creek def. Scottsburg
Salem def. Brownstown Central
Corydon Central def. Charlestown
SEMIFINALS
Silver Creek def. North Harrison
Corydon Central def. Salem
CHAMPIONSHIP
Silver Creek def. Corydon Central

CLASS 2A PAOLI SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Crawford County def. Eastern
Paoli def. Clarksville
SEMIFINALS
Paoli def. Crawford County
Henryville def. Providence
CHAMPIONSHIP
Henryville def. Paoli

CLASS A LANESVILLE SECTIONAL
SEMIFINALS
Lanesville def. New Washington
Borden def. South Central
CHAMPIONSHIP
Borden def. Lanesville

BASEBALL: Red Devils defeat MSC champ Silver Creek 5-1

By KEVIN HARRIS
JEFFERSONVILLE – Jeffersonville extended its winning streak to five games last Wednesday at Don Poole Field with a 5-1 home victory over Silver Creek.
Red Devil starter Cam Northern got the victory to improve his record to 4-1. The senior pitched 4 1/3 innings, surrendering one earned run on three hits. Northern struck out seven and walked one.
Fellow Jeff senior Mike Minton threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. He allowed two hits and one walk with two strikeouts.
The Red Devils’ Bennie Day went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Teammate Ethan English launched a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to put Jeff (14-8) up 2-0.
Starter Justin Brown got the loss for the Dragons (18-8). He yielded three runs (all earned) on four hits in two innings.
Mid-Southern Conference champion Silver Creek will host Charlestown in the first round of the Class 3A Silver Creek Sectional at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

JEFFERSONVILLE 5, SILVER CREEK 1
Silver Creek       000 010 0-1 5 0
Jeff                    211 100 x-5 7 1
W – Cam Northern (4-1). L – Justin Brown (4-6). 2B – Brown (SC), Northern (J), Bennie Day (J). HR – Ethan English (J).
Records - Jeff 14-8, Silver Creek 18-8.

SOFTBALL: Jeff comes up short of knocking off Oldham County 7-5

By KEVIN HARRIS
JEFFERSONVILLE – Host Jeffersonville gave Oldham County (Ky.) a run for its money last Wednesday, but fell short of pulling off an upset. The Red Devils lost to the Colonels 7-5.
Oldham County (27-5) scored three runs in the top of the first inning and led 4-1 after 1 ½ innings. But Jeff (11-12) rallied with a run in the bottom of the second and two in the bottom of the third to tie the game at four.
The Red Devils grabbed a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the fourth with another run. But the Colonels plated three runs in the top of the seventh to regain the advantage at 7-5. Jeff could not push a run across home plate in the bottom half.
Junior Meghan Lay was the Red Devils’ lone multihit player, going 2-for-3. Jeff senior Juliette Schuur scored two runs.
Red Devil sophomore Lizzy Coons was the losing pitcher in a complete-game performance. She yielded seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits. Coons struck out two and walked one.

OLDHAM COUNTY (Ky.) 7, JEFFERSONVILLE 5
Oldham Co.              310 000 3-7 10 3
Jeff                           112 100 0-5   9 0
W – Kalee Rose (10-2). L – Lizzy Coons (3-5). 2B – Faith Denig (J), Nan Garcia (J), Kaylee Strong (J), Elana Ornelas (OC). HR – Haley Springer (OC).
Records - Jeff 11-12, Oldham County 27-5.

Sunday, May 21, 2017

BASEBALL: Red Devils thump Madison on Senior Night 16-0

By KEVIN HARRIS
JEFFERSONVILLE – Last Tuesday at Don Poole Field, Jeffersonville honored its seniors on Senior Night with a 16-0 blowout victory over Madison in five innings.
It was another solid performance on the mound and at the plate by the Red Devils’ Ethan English.
The Jeff junior threw a four-hit shutout, striking out eight and walking two. In the batter’s box, English went 3-for-3 with a double, a home run, four RBIs and a run scored.
Four Red Devil seniors each collected two hits. Nick Grider was 2-for-2 with a triple, two RBIs and a run scored. Bennie Day ended up 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and a pair of RBIs. Jacob Cochrum went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Cam Northern was 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI.
Also for Jeff (13-8), Jack Ellis smacked a homer and Drew Taylor, Trey Bottorff and senior Mike Minton each came home twice.
Gunner Jones paced the Cubs (8-13) with a 2-for-2 effort.

JEFFERSONVILLE 16, MADISON 0, 5 INNINGS
Madison           000 00-  0   4 1
Jeff                   457 0x-16 14 1
W – Ethan English. L – Gunner Jones. 2B – English (J), Cam Northern 2 (J), Bennie Day (J). 3B – Nick Grider (J). HR – English (J), Jack Ellis (J).
Records – Jeff 13-8, Madison 8-13. 

BASEBALL: Bulldogs cruise past No. 10 Silver Creek 10-1

By KEVIN HARRIS
NEW ALBANY – After giving up a run in the top of the first inning, host New Albany scored four times in the bottom half and rolled to a 10-1 victory over Class 3A No. 10 Silver Creek last Tuesday at Mt. Tabor Field.
The Bulldogs (13-8) wound up with 10 hits. New Albany’s Jacob Mullins and Logan Charbonneau each went 2-for-3 with a double. Teammate Steven Thom was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Bulldog junior pitcher Ryan Robison got the win on the mound, improving his record to 5-3. The left-hander threw six innings, surrendering one earned run on six hits and two walks. Robison struck out seven Dragons (18-7).
Silver Creek pitcher Brian Campbell got the loss. Teammates Bryson McNay and Dylan Murphy each smacked a double for the Mid-Southern Conference champions.

NEW ALBANY 10, SILVER CREEK 1
Silver Creek         100 000 0-  1  6 2
New Albany         411 022 x-10 10 1
W – Ryan Robison (5-3). L – Brian Campbell. 2B – Bryson McNay (SC), Dylan Murphy (SC), Jacob Mullins (NA), Dylan Clark (NA), Robert Job (NA), Logan Charbonneau (NA).
Records - Silver Creek 18-7, New Albany 13-8.

Friday, May 19, 2017

SOFTBALL: Red Devils beat C’town on Senior Night 8-6

By KEVIN HARRIS
JEFFERSONVILLE – Jeffersonville rallied from a 4-2 deficit to defeat Greater Clark rival Charlestown on Senior Night on Monday 8-6.
After falling behind by two runs through three innings, the Red Devils (10-12) scored three runs each in the fifth and sixth to take an 8-4 lead. The Pirates (6-11) scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh.
Jeff senior Juliette Schuur and Red Devil junior Lindsey Nelson each went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. One of Schuur’s hits was a double.
Jeff sophomore pitcher Lizzy Coons got the win in the circle. She pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing two runs (none earned) on one hit. Coons struck out two and walked one.
Charlestown senior pitcher Kendall Cline was 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Fellow Pirate senior Taylor Glover went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Cline was the losing pitcher. She yielded eight runs (one earned) on seven hits in six innings. Cline had three strikeouts and one walk.

JEFFERSONVILLE 8, CHARLESTOWN 6
Charlestown       103 000 2-6 8 7
Jeff                     110 033 x-8 7 2
W – Lizzy Coons (3-4). L – Kendall Cline (6-10). 2B – Juliette Schuur (J), Cline (C).

Records – Jeff 10-12, Charlestown 6-11.

Thursday, May 18, 2017

BASEBALL SHOWCASE: McIntyre looking for consistency from Bulldogs as sectional nears

By KEVIN HARRIS
NEW ALBANY – Veteran New Albany head coach Chris McIntyre is searching for one thing from his team with the start of the Class 4A Bedford North Lawrence Sectional less than a week away.
That item is consistency.
McIntyre expressed the need for that after the Bulldogs swept a doubleheader against Hoosier Hills Conference rival Jennings County last Saturday at Mt. Tabor Field. New Albany defeated the visiting Panthers in a slugfest of a first game 12-8. In Game 2, the Bulldogs improved to 12-8 with a 3-2 victory.
“We are very inconsistent. We look like a young team,” McIntyre said. “It changes from inning to inning and at-bat to at-bat. We look pretty solid for a while, then we make two or three bonehead mental mistakes. We’re still working to clean it up.”
Against Jennings County, New Albany had its inconsistent moments. For instance, the Bulldog defense struggled as it committed two errors. But New Albany played better in the field in the nightcap as it made just one miscue.
McIntyre felt the Dogs and the Panthers were battling fatigue after each competed in three games in the HHC Tournament last week. That included each squad playing last Friday.
“Both teams were tired,” McIntyre said. “Both played so many games this week. Both teams looked a little bit lethargic. But you play some baseball games when you don’t play 100 percent.”
Last Friday, McIntyre said mental errors prevented the Bulldogs from winning the third-place game of the HHC Tournament at Columbus East. Indiana University football signee Harry Crider delivered a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Olympians a 4-0 victory over New Albany.
“(Last Friday) we had a winnable game,” McIntyre said. “But once again, we had two or three mental mistakes. It wasn’t anything the other team did. We did it to ourselves and we could’ve won that ballgame.”
New Albany concocted a solid performance Tuesday night at Mt. Tabor with a convincing 10-1 victory over Class 3A No. 10 and Mid-Southern Conference champion Silver Creek.
“If we have a game where we put it altogether, we can compete with just about anybody,” said McIntyre, whose team will face archrival Jeffersonville in the BNL Sectional opener next Wednesday.
The Bulldog who has shown consistency throughout the season is first baseman and pitcher Ryan Robison with his bat.
Robison went 6-for-9 in the doubleheader with the Panthers (8-13). In Game 1, he was 3-for-5 with two home runs, a double and five RBIs. He followed that with a 3-for-4 game in the nightcap. Robison has six home runs in 2017.
“He’s had a good season,” McIntyre said. “He’s been solid most games. He’s had a few games here and there where he’s been off of it a little bit. But he’s been our most consistent hitter all year. You just kind of expect a good at-bat from him.”

GAME 1: NEW ALBANY 12, JENNNINGS COUNTY 8
The Bulldogs took a 5-0 lead after the first inning, collecting six hits that included a two-run homer by Robison. But the Panthers answered with two runs apiece in the second and third to pull within 5-4.
After New Albany plated a run in the bottom of the third to go up 6-4, the Panthers scored twice in the top of the fourth to deadlock the game at six. But Robison gave the Dogs the lead for good at 7-6 in the bottom half with a one-out solo shot to right field. New Albany added four runs in the fifth to take a five-run advantage.
Bulldog junior Chase Rudy went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Teammate Logan Charbonneau was 3-for 4, scoring a pair of runs and driving in one. New Albany catcher Christian Sifers went 2-for-3 with a run scored, and the Bulldogs’ Cody Medley ended up 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Teammate Andrew Ricketts came home twice and drove in two runs.
Owen Tanksley was the winning pitcher to improve his record to 2-1. In four innings, the left-hander yielded six runs (three earned) on eight hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
Medley got his first save of the 2017 campaign. He gave up two runs (both earned) on four hits in three innings. Medley struck out two and walked none.
“I thought in the first game that we swung the bats pretty well. We had a lot of two-out hits,” McIntyre said. “We didn’t play real well defensively. Pitching-wise, Owen didn’t really have much of a breaking ball. But Owen competes. I will give him a ton of credit. He is a competitor out there. I brought Cody in and that’s the best we’ve ever gotten out of him, so I was really pleased with that.”
Jennings County’s Cody Wilson went 4-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Teammate Bret Sawyer was 2-for-4 and the Panthers’ Josh Petit had two RBIs.

GAME 2: NEW ALBANY 3, JENNINGS COUNTY 2
The Bulldogs took a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the first when Dylan Clark drilled a two-run double into left with two out. The Panthers answered with a two-out, two-run homer by Matt Kirchner to left to knot the game at two.
New Albany scored the eventual winning run in the bottom of the fourth. Jacob Mullins led off the frame with a double to left, followed by advancing to third on a balk. That was followed by designated hitter Robert Job driving in Mullins on a groundout to first.
Rudy made the biggest defensive play of the contest in the top of the fifth. With Jennings County’s Cameron Hadley on second base and two out, Sawyer hit a single to center. Rudy, the Bulldog center fielder, fielded the ball and threw a dart to Sifers at home. Sifers completed the assist by tagging out Hadley at home to prevent the tying run.
“Chase has got a good arm in the outfield,” McIntyre said. “He didn’t play the best game defensively today. He fell asleep out there a couple of times, but he does have a heck of an arm in the outfield. That’s not the first guy he’s thrown out at the plate. He keeps the ball low, so it can be cut off if it gets off-line.”
Clark was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and Mullins ended up 2-for-3. Clark was the winning pitcher in relief, tossing two scoreless innings on four hits. He struck out two and walked one.
Robison earned his first save of the season. In two innings, he held the Panthers scoreless on one hit and no walks. Robison struck out one.
“As far as the second game goes, it was just a grinder,” McIntyre said. “Both teams were spent. We had a lot of opportunities to break this open and we just didn’t get that hit. Luckily, we played good solid defense and our pitching did a nice job.”
Kirchner wound up 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Hadley was 2-for-3.

STAN SAJKO INVITATIONAL
The annual Stan Sajko Invitational will take place Friday and Saturday at Mt. Tabor Field.
This year’s tournament will have a round-robin format as only three teams are participating in the host Bulldogs, Corydon Central and North Harrison.
New Albany will face Corydon at 6 p.m. Friday in the invitational opener. Corydon will play the Harrison County rival Cougars at 11 a.m. Saturday, followed by the Bulldogs playing North Harrison at about 1 p.m. Saturday.
Longtime Sajko Invitational participant and defending Class 2A state champion Providence has dropped out of the tournament. McIntyre said last Saturday that New Albany will try to find a potential fourth team for next year’s tournament.

The invitational is named after the legendary Bulldog head baseball coach and athletic director who created the tournament in 1962. Sajko, who passed away in 2008, was inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984.

NEW ALBANY 12, JENNINGS COUNTY 8
Jennings Co.         022 201 1-  8 12 2
New Albany          501 141 x-12 16 2
W – Owen Tanksley (2-1). L – Jamie Vanvolkenburgh. S – Cody Medley (1). 2B – Cody Wilson (JC), Jacob Mullins (NA), Ryan Robison (NA), Chase Rudy 2 (NA). 3B – Duncan Rowda (JC). HR – Robison 2 (NA).

NEW ALBANY 3, JENNINGS COUNTY 2
Jennings Co.        020 000 0-2 9 2
New Albany         200 100 x-3 8 1
W – Dylan Clark (1-0). L – Jonathan Waggoner. S – Robison (1). 2B – Shawn Houser (JC), Rudy (NA), Clark (NA), Mullins (NA). HR – Matt Kirchner (JC).
Records – New Albany 12-8, Jennings County 8-13.