BASEBALL: Jeff edges BNL in 13 to repeat as HHC champs 3-2

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

JEFFERSONVILLE – Jeffersonville repeated as Hoosier Hills Conference Tournament champions in thrilling fashion last Friday at Stars Field.

Junior Ethan English’s RBI single in the top of the 13^th inning lifted Red Devils to a 3-2 victory over Class 4A No. 5 Bedford North Lawrence in the HHC Tournament title game. Jeff avenged a 9-3 loss at Bedford on April 22.

Jeff (12-8) was one out away from wrapping up the conference crown in regulation, Star senior Austin Long had other ideas.

With the Red Devils up 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Long smacked a two-out solo home run off Jeff starter Jacob Cochrum to tie the game and send it to extra innings.

In the top of the 13^th, Red Devil sophomore Drew Taylor collected a one-out double off BNL reliever Tanner McBride. Then with two out, English hit a single to center field off another Stars reliever, Cole Mathews, to plate Taylor for the eventual game-winning run.

In the bottom half, Bedford’s Drew Hensley reached third base with one out. But the game ended when Jeff third baseman Cam Northern snagged a line drive off the bat of Stars senior catcher Brody Tanksley and finished the double play by picking off Bedford’s Michael Underwood at first base.

“It was two great conference teams battling each other, and their star player (Long) hits a home run in the bottom of the seventh to send it to extra innings,” Red Devil head coach Derek Ellis told Jeff Bartlett of the Times-Mail in Bedford after the contest. “Both teams just played their hearts out all night long, and we happened to get one there in the 13th. I’m really proud of how my team played tonight, and Bedford should be very proud, too. It was a great atmosphere, a sectional-type atmosphere.”

Taylor went 4-for-6 with two runs scored, and English was 3-for-6 with an RBI. Northern ended up 2-for-6, and Jeff designated hitter Hunter Schmitz was 2-for-5.

Red Devil senior Mike Minton got his first win of the season, tossing six scoreless innings of relief. He gave up five hits, walked three and struck out three. Cochrum pitched seven frames, allowing two runs (both earned) on four hits. Cochrum issued six walks and recorded four strikeouts.

McBride got his first loss of the season. He tossed 6 1/3 innings, yielding one run (earned) on six hits. McBride fanned three and walked two.

Long and teammate Jackson Bartlett each went 2-for-5. Long had two RBIs and one run scored. Long also started for BNL (17-3) on the mound. He surrendered two runs (one earned) on seven hits. Long struck out six and walked three. Star senior Brandt Callahan wound up 2-for-6.

HHC TOURNAMENT

CHAMPIONSHIP

JEFFERSONVILLE 3, BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 2, 13 INNINGS

Jeff              001 100 000 000 1-3 14 0

BNL            001 000 100 000 0-2   9 2

W – Mike Minton (1-0). L – Tanner McBride (5-1). 2B – Austin Long (BNL), Drew Taylor (BNL). HR – Long (BNL).
Records – Jeff 12-8, BNL 17-3.