BY GREG MENGELT
Greg.Mengelt@newsandtribune.com
PENDLETON —
PENDLETON — The previously red-hot New Albany bats were shut down by Terre Haute North pitcher T.J. Collett as North beat New Albany 3-1 on Friday at Pendleton Little League.
With the victory, North earned Indiana’s berth in next week’s Great Lakes Region tournament.
“We’re disappointed,” New Albany coach John Striegel said, “but you have to take your hats off to them. They beat us. We didn’t beat ourselves. They beat us. Hopefully, they’ll represent the state of Indiana very well (at the Great Lakes Regional tournament).”
Collett pitched five shutout innings, giving up just three hits. With his side-armed curveball, Collett had New Albany batters guessing throughout the contest and struck out eight. Prior to the title game, New Albany was averaging over 10 runs per contest in the state tournament.
“Their pitcher pitched just an awesome game,” Striegel admitted. “They game could have gone either way. We just ran into a great pitcher today.”
New Albany had a chance to take an early lead, but it got nothing from two singles and two walks. Ricky West opened the frame with a base on balls. He went to third base on a Zack Landrum single. When the ball sailed over the North third baseman’s head, West tried to score. However, North shortstop Logan Grim backed up the errant toss and easily threw out West at the plate.
Matthew Sogge later singled and A.J. Nixon drew a walk to load the bases, but Collett got two strikeouts to end the New Albany threat.
“That kind of took some momentum away from us,” Striegel said. “I’ll take the blame for that. I sent the kids, but we needed to hit the ball and we didn’t. That was the big factor.”
North scored in the top of the second when Cody Maloon homered to center field off of New Albany starter Timmie Redford.
West took over in the third inning. He surrendered just two singles, but both of North baserunners scored on passed balls and wild pitches.
A.J. Nixon scored New Albany’s only run off of reliever Nick Rush. After drawing a walk to start the sixth inning, Nixon went to second on a passed ball. He then scored after a pair of ground balls, including an RBI grounder by Justin Striegel.
Sogge, who was the only New Albany player with multiple hits, went 2-for-3.
Despite the loss, Striegel said his team should look back on the experience positively.
“Great ride,” Striegel said. “It was an awesome experience. They can be proud. I know they’re upset right now, but they have a lot to be proud of. They played extremely well. State runners up is something to proud of.”
