The Versailles Republican Sports
June 12, 2008

Jac-Cen-Del Eagles find afternoon semi-state game win a hard sell

Gary Franklin, Sports Writer

A lead off double by Zach Adams of the Tecumseh Braves alarmed the Jac-Cen-Del Eagle baseball team, as they got their semi-state game underway on Monday, June 9, at the Perry Meridian baseball field in Indy. However the following three batters were retired via a fly out to Shane Adams in center field, the delivery of the first strike out of the day thrown by Eagle Brandon Gehl and short stop Blake Sutton's throw to first baseman Gerald Hardesty to eliminate the potential threat.
The bottom of the first inning found the Eagles erupting into a scoring frenzy as short stop Sutton led off with a stinging double up the center. Second baseman David Busch drew a walk and Shane Adams reached on an error, which allowed Sutton to put run number one on the scoreboard.
Right fielder Zach Simon popped out to the pitcher for the first out. Pitcher Brandon Gehl entered the batters box and went to a count of 3 and 1 before unleashing the long drive over the fence for a 3 run home run and a 4-0 Eagle lead.
Third baseman Brock Billman was thrown out, short to first, for the second out and left fielder Eric Horan reached base on an error. The third out came via a strike out to first baseman Gerald Hardesty. Eight Eagles had eyed the pitcher in their first opportunity at the plate.
Gehl and the Eagles silenced the Braves in the second inning as well. A ground out short to first, a second K for Gehl, a single and a third K ended the Braves at bat.
Eagle catcher Andrew Huff led off the bottom of the second inning, reaching first with a walk. Sutton grounded out, short to first, with Huff on second base. Busch hit a single putting Eagles on the corners with one out, bringing Shane Adams to the plate. Adams drilled a 3 run homer over the fence for a 7-0 lead. Zach Simon flew out to left and Gehl struck out to end the inning.
The top of the third evolved into a less than expected turn of events based on previous play of the day. The Braves would send nine batters to the plate and score four runs before the Eagles could shut them down.
Gehl opened with a K on the lead off batter, walked the second and hit the third, to put runners on first and second with one down. A fielder's choice accounted for the second out, but three consecutive singles leading to another hit by pitch allowed four runs to score before Gehl struck out the ninth batter of the inning to retire the side.
The Eagles added to their 7-4 lead in the bottom of the inning as Brock Billman singled, Eric Horan walked, Hardesty struck out, Huff walked and Sutton singled, to score Billman and Horan. Busch was hit by a pitch to reload the bases. A fielder's choice by Adams forced Huff out at the plate, leaving the bases loaded for Zach Simon, who struck out to end the inning.
The Brave lead off single developed into another run for them before being retired third to first, second to first and a called sixth K for Gehl.
In the bottom of four, Gehl flew out to very deep center field, just a few feet short of his second long ball for the day. Billman and Horan were taken down on strike outs.
The Braves opened the fifth with three consecutive singles that resulted in a pair of runs. Gehl registered his seventh K and a fly to left and second base ended their come back.
Derek Lunsford pinch hit for Hardesty, driving the ball to center field, where it was ran down for the out. A single by Huff, a fly out to center by Sutton with a single by Busch and a double by Adams scored Huff. Simon reached first on shot at the hole between short and third then stole second. Gehl was called out on strikes to end the inning with JCD up 11-7.
Tecumseh went wild in the sixth, adding three runs and cutting the Eagle lead to one at 11-10. A single, a fielder's choice, a home run, a single, an error, a fly to third and a pitcher to first put out encompassed the inning.
The Eagles were silenced in their at bat in the bottom of the sixth as Billman grounded out short to first, Horan squeezed in a single and stole second base, Hardesty struck out and Huff grounded out third to first.
In the final at bat for the Braves, a short to first play created out number one. Gehl fanned his eighth batter of the game with a strike out for out number two. Tecumseh's lead off batter hit a shot up the middle for a double only to have the next batter fly out on a pop up to Sutton at short stop to seal the deal. PHEW!!!
In the bag but none too soon!

GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO Father and son discuss the upcoming game Pictured above, JCD Eagle Blake Sutton and his dad Tim do a little pre-game chat as the Eagles prepare to face sectional action at Madison Shawe.

GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO '08 ORVC All Conference Girls Track & Field Team named Pictured front, from left are Milan Lady Indian Shelby Zornes, Switzerland County Lady Pacer Christina Ahaus, Jac-Cen-Del Lady Eagle Valorie Wagner, Rising Sun Lady Shiner Aryn Peters, South Ripley Lady Raider Lakin Davis and Rising Sun Lady Shiner Caitlyn Bowman. Standing: Rising Sun Lady Shiner Chelsea Bowman, Milan Lady Indian Laura Kaufhold, South Ripley Lady Raider Meredith Knollman, Milan Lady Indian Katie Dickey, Co-Mental Attitude Award Winners - South Ripley Lady Raider Kellie Collier and Switzerland County Lady Pacer Shana Todd, along with ORVC Girl's Track & Field "Coach of the Year" Sam Durham of the South Ripley Lady Raiders. Unavailable for photo were SR's Erica Wickstrom, Milan's Kelsey Reese, Elaina Voss, Deborah Fryer, Kaleigh Gardner and Vicki Woulms and Southwestern Hanover Lady Rebel Co-Mental Attitude Award Winner Danielle Clark. The South Ripley Lady Raiders were Girl's Team Champs.