Published: July 15, 2008 01:38 am            

DISTRICT V BASEBALL: Jeff is the new king

New Albany run of district titles finally ends

Jeff/GRC won its first District V championship since 1992 with a 4-1 win over New Albany on Monday.

It is the first time since 1993 — when Highlander Youth Recreation won the District V title — that any team other than New Albany will represent District V in the section tournament.

Jeff will face District VI champion Greenwood in the three-game series to determine which squad will advance to the eight-team state championship tournament in Highland, starting July 21. Jeff and Greenwood will meet Thursday, Friday and — if necessary — Saturday. All games will start at 7 p.m. at Woehrle Field in Jeffersonville.

Defending state champion New Albany came out and looked like it would be reluctant to give up its title.

After Jeff was held scoreless top of the first, Tucker Marcum led off the bottom of the first against Jeff starter Chandler Dale with a triple off of the right field fence. Grant Goad followed with an RBI single and New Albany had struck first blood.

After Dale hit Kyle Landrum with a pitch and gave up a one-out single to Ethan Atkins, Jeff coach Derek Ellis made a change on the mound, bringing in his son, Drew Ellis.

Ellis stuck out Brady Parr and Jacob Flener to get out of the inning without any more damage.

“Drew thrives in situations like that,” Coach Ellis said. “He’s so competitive that he really likes those situations. He did a heck of a job.”

In the next five innings, Ellis didn’t give up a single hit. He struck out 11 New Albany batters.

“The plan all along was to get Chandler one or two innings,” Coach Ellis said. “He just didn’t have his best stuff, but he didn’t let it affect him on defense or (at the plate).”

In fact, Dale tied the game up by himself when he led off the second inning with a solo home run. In the bottom of the second, he came up with a defensive gem, coming from his shortstop position to make a sliding catch inside the third base line for the second out.

“Chandler is a solid player who we know we can count on,” Ellis said.

Jeff took the lead for good in the top of the third. Nick Thompson led off the inning with a Nick Thompson infield single. After Austin Hines walked, Drew Ellis doubled off of the left field fence to score Thompson. The speedy Hines was thrown out at the plate after trying to go from first to home.

Jeff then seemed to put the game away in the top of the fifth without getting a hit.

Tyler Sariscany drew a walk and Christopher Wenger was hit by a pitch to start the inning. After Marcum struck out two Jeff batters, Ellis drew a walk to load the bases. Dale then walked on four pitches and Dalton Duly was hit by a pitch on a 1-2 count to give Jeff a 4-1 lead.

Ellis struck out five of the final six batters he faced — including the side in the sixth — to give Jeff the title.

“I’m happy for the kids,” Coach Ellis said. “They’ve worked extremely hard and it’s paid off. They’re very deserving of this.”

New Albany coach Aaron Goad was equally proud of his team, which had dropped two straight pool play games heading into Monday’s championship contest.

“We just came up a little short,” Goad said. “We ran into a buzz saw. I’m pleased with everything except the fact that we didn’t win. I think these are two of the best teams in the state. It’s a shame we both don’t get to go on.”



BOX SCORE

Jeffersonville 011 020—4 5 0

New Albany 100 000—1 3 1

W — Ellis. L — Landrum. 2B — Ellis (J). 3B — Marcum (N). HR — Dale (J).

Records — Jeff 6-0, New Albany 3-3.

        

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