FORT WAYNE — Jeff/GRC’s Junior All-Stars scored eight runs in the sixth inning for a stunning 8-6 come-from-behind victory over Urbandale, Iowa, on Sunday.

The win makes Jeff 2-0 and  atop the pool standings at the Central Region at Fort Wayne.

Jeff entered the sixth inning down 6-0 but got eight runs on seven hits to earn the huge victory.

“It was big,” Jeff manager Jerry Cardwell said. “What a comeback. It was real exciting. It was definitely a big win. Being 2-0 really helps us out.”

After a scoreless game through four innings, the Iowa state champions took a 1-0 lead in the fifth then tacked on five runs in the sixth to take a seemingly commanding lead.

Dylan Thompson and Dewey Cardwell started the rally with a pair of singles. Christian Vangrift then drove in Jeff’s initial run with an RBI that scored pinch-runner Kooper Falkenstein.

Jared Cardwell then made it 6-3 with a two-RBI double that scored Dewey Cardwell and Vangrift. Falkenstein then re-entered the lineup and walked. He and Jordan Thomas, who reached on a fielder’s choice, scored on Miah Phelps’ double that sailed over the right fielder’s head to make it 6-5.

Devon Krueger followed with a single that plated Phelps to tie the contest at 6-apiece.

After an Ian Ellis groundout moved Krueger to third, Jeff took its first lead on a controversial call.

Thompson — batting for the second time in the  inning — asked the home plate umpire for timeout. It wasn’t granted, but the Urbandale pitcher stopped his motion. A balk was called, bringing home Krueger with the go-ahead run.

“It was definitely the right call,” Coach Cardwell said. “He started his motion and did everything but throw the ball. Earlier [Thompson] asked for timeout and it wasn’t granted and [the Iowa pitcher] got a strike called, so it definitely was the correct call.”

Thompson later doubled on and scored on another Dewey Cardwell single to give Thomas a two-run cushion on the mound.

“They’re definitely a never-say-die team,” Coach Cardwell said of his squad. “We were down going into that inning and they just really, really it the ball well. They don’t give up. I can’t say enough. They made me a believer tonight.”

Thomas, who pitched the third, fourth and fifth innings before giving way to Dewey Cardwell, returned to the mound in the sixth to get Jeff out of a jam.

He then earned the victory with a perfect seventh.

“Jordan Thomas did an awesome job,” Coach Cardwell said. “It was a really gutsy performance.”

Krueger and Dewey Cardwell led the Jeff offense, which had 13 hits in the game, with 3-for-4 performances. Phelps, Thompson and Vangrift had two hits apiece.



JEFF/GRC SCHEDULE & RESULTS

    Saturday — Jeff/GRC 13, Fort Wayne Georgetown 0

    Sunday — Jeff/GRC 8, Urbandale (Iowa) 6

    Monday — Jeff/GRC vs. East Madison (Wis.), 6 p.m.

    Tuesday — Jeff/GRC vs. South Elgin (Ill.), 4 p.m.

    Wednesday — Quarterfinals, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. (top two seeds receive byes to semifinals)

    Thursday — Semifinals, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

    Thursday — Championship, 5 p.m.