By GREG MENGELT
Greg.Mengelt@newsandtribune.com
PENDLETON —
New Albany’s 11-12-year-old All-Star team won its fourth straight game of the state tournament, beating Highland 15-2 on Tuesday at Pendleton Little League.
The victory vaults New Albany into tonight’s state semifinal against either Evansville Gulfmoor or New Castle. The semifinal is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.
On Tuesday, New Albany scored 15 runs on 15 hits, and Zach Landrum hit a two-run home run in the first inning. It was his fourth round-tripper of the state tourney.
“Our kids are really hitting the ball well right now,” New Albany coach John Striegel said. “Everybody’s hitting the ball. Zach’s on fire, but everybody has hit the ball well.”
With a 4-0 lead after the first inning, New Albany was able to keep all of its pitchers on the 20-pitch limit that makes them all available for tonight’s contest.
A.J. Nixon pitched the first 20 pitches and earned the victory.
“We jumped on them early,” Striegel said. “We got some key hits in the first inning and took some wind out of their sails. We pounced on them. We put a lot of balls in play.”
New Albany has now scored 44 runs in its four state tournament games.
“When you put 15 runs on the board, you have to be hitting well,” Striegel said.
