BY GREG BURTON
Special to Southern Indiana Preps
JEFFERSONVILLE — Class 4A No. 1 New Albany entered the state
tournament with high expectations, as it should have.
Expectations are meaningless when it comes to reality,
however.
In the first round of the Class 4A Jeffersonville Sectional
at Don Poole Field, the Bulldogs opened play against fellow Hoosier Hills
Conference foe Seymour. New Albany was obviously the favorite.
However, New Albany also experienced the old sports adage
of, "If you let an underdog team hang around long enough, there's an
increasing chance they will beat you the closer it gets to the end."
That is exactly what happened Wednesday night, as Seymour
scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning and came away with the huge
upset. The Owls won the game 3-2, finishing New Albany's season at 24-5.
“We had a great year. In this one-and-done tournament
system, one bad play, one bad hit, can make a difference," said New Albany
coach Chris McIntyre.
The game proceeded on its way through a scoreless four
innings, with Seymour pitcher Alan Perry and New Albany pitcher Chase Rudy
dominating from the mound.
Perry threw a complete game, allowing nine hits, striking
out seven and walking three batters. He gave up two runs in the bottom of the
sixth inning, both earned.
Rudy seemed to be the more dominant of the pair. He went 6
2/3 innings, striking out 14, giving up just five hits, all three runs (two
earned) and walking five.
New Albany got on the board first, plating a pair in the
bottom of the fifth inning. Owen Tanksley led off with a single to get the
action going. Andrew Ricketts sacrificed Tanksley to second base. After a
passed ball move Tanksley to third, Steven Thom singled him home for the first
run, making it 1-0 Bulldogs.
Rudy followed with a single. Cooper Biven also singled,
driving in Thom. The Bulldogs led 2-0, and it appeared as if that advantage was
going to stand up.
Seymour (16-9) began its seventh inning rally from the
start. Matthew Moore singled, followed by a walk to pinch hitter Devil Hill. A
big play immediately followed, as R.J. Kleber bunted to move the runners
forward. On the play, however, Rudy mishandled the ball, and all hands were
safe, loading the bases.
"I thought the big one was when they got the leadoff
on, and we walked the next guy," said McIntyre. "That was one of the
bigger at-bats in the inning. Then we didn't handle the bunt. Chase just got in
a hurry. He just took his eyes off the ball.
"Chase was pitching fine. You've got to give their guys
(Seymour) credit. At first, their swings were a little long. But then they shortened
their swings up just to get the ball in play in the seventh inning."
Perry grounded to third, and the Bulldogs got a force play
at home, leaving the bases full.
Then, senior A.J. Boshears stepped to the plate and smacked
a base hit down the line into left, scoring two runs and tying the game.
After a strikeout left runners on first and second with two
outs, Michael Knecht came to bat for the Owls. The right fielder had struck out
in his three times previously. This time, however, he knocked a ball to center,
scoring Perry and making the score 3-2 in favor of Seymour.
New Albany staged a rally in the bottom of the seventh. Rudy
got things going with a one-out single. Biven tagged a ball to left, but it was
playable, making the second out.
Jonah Boone got an infield single, putting runners on first
and second. After a passed ball, Ryan Robison, one of New Albany's most
powerful hitters, was intentionally walked to load the bases.
The game ended, though, when Dylan Clark lifted a fly ball
to center field, which was easily handled by Boshears.
"We gave ourselves an opportunity in the seventh,"
said McIntyre. "They had a passed ball, and it would have been better if
we hadn't run. But it's instinct, you just go.
"We had some good at-bats the last inning. Cooper hit
the ball real well to left field. Just missed it a little."
Perry run his record to 9-1 with the victory, while Rudy
ended the season at 5-4.
"They (Seymour) are a much different team when (Perry)
is on the mound," said McIntyre. "Their team plays with much more
confidence when he's pitching. He kept the fastball away. He's going to throw
the curve ball at any count. He's a true pitcher. He's not going to blow you
away with the fastball. He's going to pitch it where he needs to."
Seymour will play Bedford North Lawrence in the first
semifinal on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. The Stars defeated Floyd Central in
Wednesday’s second first-round game, 8-3.
Saturday’s second semifinal will pit Class 4A No. 6 Jeff
against Jennings County at approximately 3 p.m. The championship game will be
at 1 p.m. Monday.
CLASS 4A JEFFERSONVILLE SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
SEYMOUR 3, NEW ALBANY 2
Seymour 000
000 3—3 5 1
New Albany 000 020 0—2
9 2
W — Alan Perry (9-1).
L — Chase Rudy (5-4).
Records:
Seymour 16-9, New Albany 24-5.
Multiple hit players: New Albany — Dylan Clark 2-4, Chase Rudy 2-3.
Perry pitching line: 7 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 7 K, 3 BB.
Rudy pitching line: 6 2/3 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 14 K, 5 BB.
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