News and Tribune

Local Sports

Related Photos

Discussion

Add a comment on this story
July 19, 2008

LITTLE LEAGUE: Dale slam sends Jeff to state

By MIKE HUTSELL

JEFFERSONVILLE — Jeff/GRC’s Chandler Dale can probably sell his services as some sort of protection plan.

With Greenwood dead set against seeing Jeff/GRC star Drew Ellis beat them at the plate, Dale was provided with plenty of opportunities to help his team with his bat in Friday’s Section 6 Tournament at Woehrle Field.

Each time Ellis walked into the batter’s box, the Greenwood hurler was quick to issue four straight balls for an intentional walk.

All Dale did behind Ellis at the plate was hit a pivotal grand slam in the second inning and drive in another run, helping Jeff make the next week’s state tournament in Highland with a 7-1 victory to sweep the best-of-three series.

Trailing 1-0 with runners on first and third base in the second, Greenwood walked Ellis to load the bases for Dale, who promptly crushed a drive over the outfield fence to extend that advantage to 5-0.

“People want to believe that the best way to beat us is to take the bat out of Drew’s hand,” said Jeff/GRC head coach Derek Ellis. “But with the guys we have behind him in the lineup, we can still do quite a bit of damage.”

While Greenwood managed to control the damage caused by Ellis at the plate, he perhaps squashed the visitors’ best chance at a victory with his glove in the fifth inning.

Trailing 6-1, Greenwood loaded the bases with nobody out. Ellis then picked a line drive at shortstop and threw to third for a double play. After a Greenwood runner thought the inning was over and left first, he was picked off to complete a rare triple play and finished Greenwood’s threat.

“When you get into a bases-loaded, no-out situation like that, you’re just thinking of ways to limit them to one or two runs and stay in the lead,” Derek Ellis said. “You never expect a triple play like that. We would have taken the double play and been happy with it.”

Jeff/GRC also turned a double play with the bases loaded earlier in the game.

In contrast to Thursday’s series opener — when Jeff led 6-1 in the fifth inning before letting its opponent score five times in the final two frames to force extra innings — the hosts kept their opponents from mounting any serious rally in the final innings.

Jeff/GRC’s Ben Shahroudi homered and tossed the opening four innings, followed by Dale in a relief appearance. Dale tossed the final two innings of the win.

“The key for us is having pitchers who throw strikes,” said Derek Ellis. “If we give up baserunners with walks, we get ourselves in trouble. Both Ben and Chandler went out there and threw strikes and let our defense take care of the rest.”

Jeff/GRC hopes to become the second straight District V representative to bring home the state title after New Albany won it 2007.

The core of Jeff’s team won the state tournament last fall in the 11-year-old division.

“It’s not new to them. They’ve been to state before,” said Coach Ellis. “They’re ready. They can’t wait to see what happens.”



Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local Sports
  • newsroom-2-9-12-7344.jpg CLARK-FLOYD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Parkview wins eighth-grade title game; Highland Hills takes seventh-grade crown

    Highland Hills’ seventh-grade boys and Parkview’s eighth-graders each won Clark-Floyd Tournament championships Thursday at Silver Creek Middle School.
    The Highland Hills’ seventh-graders outscored Parkview 12-3 in the final 2:42 for a 34-31 victory. Parkview’s eighth-graders also earned a come-from-behind triumph with a 21-5 fourth quarter to avenge their only loss of the season, 63-50 over Silver Creek.

    February 10, 2012 4 Photos

  • HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP: Jeff claims a share of HHC title at Jennings, 57-55

    The Jeffersonville boys’ basketball team captured a piece of its first Hoosier Hills Conference championship since the 2005-06 season on Thursday night, winning at Jennings County 57-55.

    February 10, 2012

  • newsroom-2-9-12-0784.jpg BOYS' BASKETBALL: Pirates take down North Harrison, 64-47

    Being out of contention for a Mid-Southern Conference title, the Charlestown Pirates took a big step in preparation for sectional play on Thursday with a 64-47 victory over visiting North Harrison.

    February 10, 2012 4 Photos

  • COLLEGE NOTEBOOK: Feb. 10, 2012

    ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
    • Braydon Hobbs (Bellarmine men’s basketball, New Albany graduate, Sr.) — weekly stats: 13.5 points per game, 10-of-19 field goals, 5-of-12 3-pointers, 2-of-3 free throws, 12 assists, 11 rebounds, five blocked shots, four steals; top performance: 16 points, shooting 6-of-12 from the field, 2-of-6 from 3-point range and 2-of-2 from the line, seven rebounds, game-high four blocked shots, four assists and team-high three steals in the Knights’ 80-75 win last Saturday at Lewis; notes: Hobbs has made the Capital One Academic All-District IV Team for NCAA Division II. Hobbs’ eight assists in last Thursday’s win at Wisconsin-Parkside broke Bellarmine‘s all-time assist record; team records: 20-1 overall, 12-1 Great Lakes Valley Conference.

    February 10, 2012

  • 02-09 SC 1 wb.jpg CLASS 3A SECTIONAL: Silver Creek, Charlestown fall in opening round

    It was a rough night for Clark County teams at the Class 3A Charlestown Sectional Wednesday night. The host Pirates put up a gallant fight in Game 1 before falling to Class 3A No. 8 Brownstown Central, 45-37, while defending sectional champion Silver Creek was upset by Corydon Central in Game 2, 50-44.

    February 8, 2012 6 Photos

  • 02-06 Swim Sectional 4 wb.jpg POOLSIDE: Local accomplishment the focus at state

    The likelihood of a local girl bringing home a state championship at the IHSAA State Swimming Championship meet in Indianapolis this Friday and Saturday is incredibly slim.

    February 8, 2012 1 Photo

  • Mengelt, Greg.jpg COLLEGE BASKETBALL SNAPSHOT: Wildcats will be the team to beat in March

    Heading into Tuesday’s contest with No. 7 Florida, top-ranked Kentucky had some questions that needed to be answered.
    The Wildcats, who have struggled at times with their half-court offense and have had their physical toughness questioned, hadn’t played a ranked team yet in 2012.

    February 8, 2012 1 Photo

  • BOYS' BASKETBALL: Clarksville cruises past Trinity Lutheran

    Aidan McEwen scored 22 points and pulled down eight rebounds to power Clarksville past Trinity Lutheran at home on Wednesday, 59-33.

    February 8, 2012

  • 02-08 FC 1 wb.jpg CLASS 4A SECTIONAL: Highlanders lose in double OT to Seymour; Jeff falls to BNL

    It was a heartbreaking night for the Clark-Floyd area in the first round of the Class 4A Seymour Sectional.

    February 8, 2012 5 Photos

  • hville-prov-1.jpg CLASS 2A SECTIONAL: Providence guts out win over Henryville, 40-31

    The Providence girls’ basketball squad advanced to the Class 2A Eastern Sectional semifinal against Paoli with a gritty, 40-31 win over Henryville Tuesday.

    February 8, 2012 7 Photos