JEFFERSONVILLE — Isaac Crafton made it official on Wednesday at Don Poole Field — he is on fire.

The junior catcher blasted a walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead the Jeffersonville baseball team past Class 4A No. 4 New Albany in the Hoosier Hills Conference Tournament semifinals, 1-0.

The Red Devils (10-6) will host Seymour, which defeated Columbus East in Wednesday’s other semi 10-3, at 6 p.m. on Friday in the tournament championship game. The Bulldogs (20-3) will entertain the Olympians in the third-place game on Friday.

With two out and nobody on in the eighth, Crafton smacked a 1-0 pitch from New Albany starting pitcher Brandon Johnson over the right-field fence. The ball traveled an estimated 350 feet.

“Everybody knew once he came up, it was over,” Jeff head coach Matthew Rigsby said. “You have no idea what to pitch him.”

The solo blast ended a 3-for-3 game for Crafton, who is currently on an impressive hitting tear. Crafton has collected 14 hits in his last 15 at-bats. Wednesday’s performance vaulted his batting average over .700 for the season. Crafton has collected a hit in each of Jeff’s 16 contests this season.

Rigsby says being a catcher has helped Crafton become an even more dangerous hitter.

“I hate to say that his position has helped him, but it does help him,” Rigsby said. “When you have that smart of a player with talent, it’s a deadly combination.”

Crafton’s solo homer spoiled a great outing by Johnson. The Bulldog right-hander gave up five hits, struck out three, hit one batter and walked none.

New Albany head coach Chris McIntyre was happy with the way Johnson bounced back after he had a rough outing in last Friday’s 5-4 victory against Bloomington South.

“I’ve got to be honest, I was concerned about him after that game,” McIntyre said. “He did an awesome job today. He did what we wanted him to do.”

For the second time this season, Jeff starter Trent Astle blanked the Bulldogs. The junior right-hander threw all eight innings, allowing three hits and no walks while striking out five.

Astle tossed a four-hit shutout in the Red Devils’ 4-0 victory at New Albany on April 18.

“Considering the 15 innings he has thrown against us, I guess he owns us right now,” McIntyre said. “We swung at some bad pitches, but you’ve got to give credit to the pitcher, too.”

Rigsby was impressed with Astle’s control on Wednesday.

“He does not have a lot of velocity right now. But what’s making his fastball look a lot faster is because he’s got command of his other pitches,” Rigsby said.

Both teams wasted opportunities to score early in the contest.

Jeff had runners at first and third base with two out in the bottom of the third. But Astle hit a grounder to New Albany shortstop Jordan Striegel, who flipped the ball to second baseman Tucker Marcum for the 6-4 forceout to end the inning.

Striegel led off the top of the fourth with an infield single, as he beat the throw from Red Devil third baseman Josh Burke. Striegel advanced to second on a Garrett Sherrell sacrifice and then went to third on a Logan Striegel grounder.

But New Albany’s Clayton Poff stranded Jordan Striegel at third when he struck out swinging on a high fastball from Astle.

In the bottom of the seventh with two out, Jeff’s Dalton Conway went to second on a Bulldog throwing error and advanced to third on a wild pitch. But Red Devil pinch hitter Chandler Dale struck out on a Johnson curve to end the scoring threat.

The Bulldogs’ Cameron Mullins led off the top of the eighth on a throwing error and then went to second on a wild pitch with one out. But back-to-back fly outs to left halted New Albany’s scoring threat.



NEW ALBANY    000 000 00—0 3 2

JEFF    000 000 01—1 5 2

    W — Astle (3-2). L — Johnson (3-2). 2B — Parr (NA). HR — Crafton (J).

    Records — Jeffersonville 10-6, New Albany 20-3.