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July 29, 2010

Jeff/GRC 13/14s roll in state tourney opener

By KEVIN HARRIS Kevin.Harris@newsandtribune.com

> SOUTHERN INDIANA — The Jeff/GRC 13-14 Baseball All-Stars continued their dominant ways on Thursday with a 14-1, five-inning triumph over Wabash in their opener of the Indiana State Tournament in Lowell.

Drew Ellis powered Jeff/GRC, blasting two home runs. He had a solo shot and a two-run homer.

Teammate Chandler Dale collected two doubles and five RBIs. Jeff/GRC led 7-0 after the first inning.

“They are stepping their game up,” Jeff/GRC manager Dale Sariscany said. “We hit the ball pretty well.”

Jeff/GRC continues pool play at 6:30 tonight against Portage.

• HYR 13-14s shut out Fall Creek: The Highlander Youth Recreation 13-14 Softball All-Stars picked up where they left off in the state tournament opener in Lebanon.

HYR pitchers Caroline Cato and Jackie Banet combined to toss a one-hitter in a 13-0 victory over Fall Creek in pool play.

HYR has not allowed a run during the postseason. In the District V Tournament earlier this month, the All-Stars outscored their opponents, 52-0.

Cato and Banet combined to give up one walk and strike out 11 batters. Cato pitched the first four innings to earn the victory. She allowed the lone hit and the lone walk while fanning seven.

Banet pitched three scoreless innings, yielding no hits and striking out four.

HYR’s top three batters in the lineup had a very productive contest. Leadoff hitter Kenedy House, No. 3 batter Katelin Dreher and Cato, who batted in the second spot, went a combined 10-for-14 and scored seven runs.

Cato was 4-for-5 with two doubles and three runs scored.

House went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored. Dreher was 3-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored.

“We talked all week about starting this tournament like we did in districts. The girls showed up and made a statement,” HYR head coach Eddie Cato said. “We could tell they were nervous. We said, ‘Relax — this field is like our field.’ Defensively, we played absolutely outstanding. We played great all day.”

HYR plays Riverfield in its second pool-play game at 1 p.m. today.

• HYR 11s down New Prairie: In the state tournament opener in Fort Wayne, HYR took a 5-2 lead with four runs in the bottom of the third and rolled past New Prairie, 11-4. HYR tacked on five more runs in the bottom of the fifth.

HYR took advantage of several miscues by the New Prairie defense and pitching staff in both the third and fifth.

Starting pitcher Jon Cato, who got the victory, was one of six HYR pitchers used in the contest.

“We felt confident with the pitchers we had on the mound. Plus we had good solid defense,” HYR manager Paul Rutledge said.

HYR continues pool play at 4 p.m. today against St. Joseph’s Central.

• Portage rallies to beat HYR 15-16s: HYR could not hold on to an 8-5 lead in the top of the seventh, as Portage scored six times to win 11-8 in pool play of the state tourney in Greenwood. HYR committed five errors in the frame.

“It’s a tough one. Errors killed us,” HYR manager Joe Ruttle said.

Reuben Fritzinger led the HYR offense with a 3-for-4 game, which included a double.

Teammates Zach Nichols and Kyle Fites each collected two hits.

Starting pitcher Garrett Ruttle threw 52⁄3 innings, striking out four. He did not allow a run until the fifth inning and gave up two runs in the seventh before exiting the game because he reached the 95-pitch limit.

The setback ended HYR’s chances of reaching the championship round.

HYR (0-2) will play its pool-play finale at 7:30 tonight against Seymour.

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