DYER —
From the first batter of the game, the New Albany 9-10-year-old All-Stars hit every pitch in sight, on their way to an 11-0 victory in four innings over Valparaiso (4-1) in the semifinals of the Minor Baseball State Tournament at Dyer Little League. The win places New Albany (4-1) in tonight’s championship game at 8 p.m. against Evansville Golfmoor.
“In the last three games, everybody’s been on. I have a problem knowing which players to sub for,” New Albany manager Josh Biven said with a laugh. “That’s a great problem for a coach to have.”
Back-to-back singles from Andrew Ricketts and Cooper Biven opened the game for New Albany. Then, Kevin Smith launched a home run to right field, giving New Albany a quick 3-0 lead.
“I just relaxed at the plate,” said Smith, who went 2-for-3 in the game with four RBIs. “The pitch was a fastball, pretty much right down the middle.”
New Albany’s Carson Gentry added an RBI double later in the first inning, scoring Austin Oppel. After one half-inning of play, New Albany held a 4-0 lead over Valparaiso.
Said Smith: “We just kept putting the ball in play and good things kept happening.”
The four-run lead was more than enough for New Albany starting pitcher Hayden Krebs. He pitched four scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and two walks while striking out four Valparaiso batters.
“It was just an outstanding job by him,” Josh Biven said of Krebs. “He closed the door on the game [Tuesday] night and then came back today and only needed about 50 pitches. He was just awesome … throwing a lot of strikes.”
New Albany added a fifth run in the second inning on an RBI single from Smith, which brought Landon Deweese across home plate. Four more runs scored in the third inning, three of them coming on an inside-the-park home run by Cooper Biven. The final run came in the fourth inning on another RBI double by Gentry, who had three doubles in the contest.
NEW ALBANY 414 2—11 12 1
VALPARAISO 000 0— 0 2 0
W — Hayden Krebs. L — Ronny Morey. 2B — Carson Gentry 3 (N), Levi Baxter (N). HR — Kevin Smith (N), Cooper Biven (N).
Records — New Albany 4-1, Valparaiso 4-1.
Floyd County Sports
Related Photos
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Kevin Smith is mobbed by his teammates at home plate after hitting a three-run home run in the first inning. PHOTO BY DAVE MELTON/GARY POST-TRIBUNE
Discussion
August 1, 2012
LITTLE LEAGUE: New Albany rolls past Valpo in semis, to play in final tonight
NA 9-10s will face Evansville Golfmoor at 8 p.m.
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CLASS A BASEBALL SECTIONAL: Borden reaches Class A Lanesville Sectional final by trouncing Mustangs, 13-3
South Central tops Rock Creek
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TRACK REGIONAL: Local trio win regional championships
Parrish, Hamsley, Dowdell all winners
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ROUNDUP: Borden nips Henryville in 18-hole match at Covered Bridge
New Albany’s Kanii outlasts Hollkamp in singles sectional final
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H.S. SOFTBALL, CLASS 2A EASTERN SECTIONAL: Providence wins consecutive sectionals for the first time
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H.S. BASEBALL, CLASS 4A BNL SECTOINAL: Highlanders edge New Albany in first round, 2-1
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H.S. GIRLS' TENNIS: No. 6 Highlanders win another regional crown
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H.S. GIRLS' TENNIS: Weather postpones championship
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BASEBALL SECTIONAL PREVIEW: Floyd, New Albany, Jeff expect tough field at Class 4A BNL Sectional
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CLASS 4A JEFF SECTIONAL: Highlanders upset by Bedford at Jeff Sectional
New Albany falls to Jennings County in second semi, 3-0
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