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By Ben Grossberg
Prep Baseball Report, Indiana

New Albany – In a first round matchup in the Hoosier Hills Conference tournament, No. 1 Floyd Central took the field against No. 17 New Albany. Floyd Central entered the game at 21-0 and New Albany came in winning eight straight games. Kyle Sipes got the ball for Floyd and Brandon Johnson took the mound for New Albany.

Both Sipes and Johnson were dominant through their first three innings of work. Sipes ran into a little trouble in the first when the first two batters singled, but he got three straight outs to end the inning. Johnson had to deal with some trouble of his own in the third inning with runners on first and third and two outs, but struck out the batter to end the inning.

In the fourth, New Albany’s offense finally broke through for the first run of the game. Logan Striegel singled to start the inning, then stole second. Garrett Sherrell  followed up with a single of his own, putting runners on first and third.  After a strikeout, AJ Nixon laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to bring in the first run of the game. Sipes wouldn’t allow any more runs in the inning though.

In the top of the sixth Floyd tied the game up thanks to a clutch two out hit. With two outs Trey Fulton was hit by a pitch. Colton Kimm came up to the plate and Fulton stole second. With Fulton now in scoring postion, Kimm lined a two strike pitch into right center bringing Fulton in and tying the game at one.

In the bottom of the sixth New Albany regained their lead. Jarius McClure was hit by a pitch to start the inning and would steal second. After a groundout moved McClure to third, Sherrell was intentionally walked (Sipes only walk of the game). This time it was Jack Shine that would try to bring in a run with a squeeze bunt. Shine bunted the ball up in the air, but it landed near the first base line between the pitcher, catcher, and first baseman. With no one covering home McClure alertly was able to run home giving New Albany a 2-1 lead. Sipes would strike out the next two batters to end the inning.

In the top of the seventh Floyd Central was able to get to Johnson, who had only allowed just three hits through the first six innings. Johnson struck out the first batter of the inning, but Kyle Beach and Michael Springer drew back-to-back walks. Connor Curry came up and singled on a line drive up the middle scoring Beach to tie the game at two. With two runners still on, Derek DeSpain stepped to the plate and drove a ball over the left field wall for a three run homerun, giving Floyd their first lead of the game at 5-2. Jacob Snodgrass came up next and added a homerun of his own with a solo shot to left putting Floyd up 6-2.

In the seventh Garrett Ruttle relieved Sipes on the mound. After allowing a leadoff single, Ruttle struck out the next batter. With one out Ruttle induced a 4-6-3 doubled play to end the game and keep Floyd Central unbeaten on the season at 22-0.