Astle, Jeff Win Second Consecutive Sectional Title

By Ben Grossberg

Bedford – Jeffersonville and Floyd Central meet in the Sectional 15 Championship game with a spot in the Evansville Regional on the line. The Xavier commit, Trent Astle,  got the ball for Jeffersonville and showed why he is one of the best, if not the best, big game pitchers in the state. The last time these two teams meet, in the Hoosier Hills Conference Title Game, Astle threw a two hit shuout in a 1-0 win for Jeff. 

In the first inning Jeffersonville got on the board with a run. Nick Gallagher reached on an over throw to first allowing him to get to second on the play. A Drew Ellis single put runners on the corners with no outs for Astle. Astle hit into a double play, but the run scored on the play. Astle ran off the field confident that the one run would be enough for him. He was right.

Astle went right at the Floyd hitters, not getting a lot of strikeouts, but getting outs nonetheless. In the first Floyd got two runners on with one out, but a fly out got the second out and Astle picked the runner off at second to end the inning.

Astle helped his own cause in the third. Ellis singled for the second time in as many at bats to start the inning and Astle followed with a two run homerun to give Jeff a 3-0 lead.

Astle allowed runners to reach base, but never looked fazed. The first inning was the only time Floyd had two batters get a hits in the inning.

In the fourth Jeff gave Astle another run to work with. Astle doubled with two outs and was pinch ran for by Jeremiah Phelps. Chandler Dale then came up and singled allowing Phelps to score from second and pushing the lead to 4-0.

In the sixth Jeff added their fifth run of the game. Jared Burke doubled to start the inning and moved to third on a passed ball. Gallagher came up next and singled him in for a 5-0 lead.

In the seventh, Astle came back on to the mound to finish off his shutout. After striking out the first batter and next hitter reached on an. A fielder’s choice got the second out and a walk put two runners on, for only the second time all game. Astle set down the next batter to end the game and win the Sectional 15 Title. Astle finished the game allowing just five hits in the shutout while striking out three and giving up two walks.

Derek DeSpain and Jacob Snodgrass accounted for four of the five hits, both going 2-3 in the game for Floyd. 

Jeffersonville claimed their second sectional title in a row and will head to the Evansville Regional to take on Franklin this Saturday.