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By Blake Hibler
Director of Scouting, PBR Indiana

JEFFERSONVILLE--- 23-0 Floyd Central took their number 1 ranking and undefeated record to conference foe Jeffersonville for the Hoosier Hills Conference title on Saturday. The eight team single elimination tournament began on the previous Monday and concluded on Saturday with Floyd Central taking on Jeffersonville for the championship. 

Floyd Central defeated New Albany in dramatic fashion on Tuesday and then defeated Seymour 8-1 on Wednesday to get to the finals. 

Jeffersonville scored a total of three runs in their previous two games in the conference tournament defeating Jennings County 2-0 and Madison 1-0. 

The HHC final was a true pitcher’s dual. Trent Astle (Jeffersonville) and Kyle Sipes (Floyd Central) matched each other pitch for pitch for 7 innings. The two pitchers each faced 23 hitters, a combined 7 over the minimum. Astle and Sipes combined to give up 6 hits, 1 walk, and struck out 13. The game was as evenly pitched as I have seen this year. 

The two lefties carry similar traots on the mound. Both are senior left handers that are big and strong. Astle, throws his fastball 82-85, while Sipes is 75-79. Both throw big breaking balls that they can throw at anytime, in any count for a strike. Both control both sides of the plate with all three pitches. Sipes throws from a multitude of arm angles, while Astle is one of the most consistent strike throwers in the state. 

Astle and Jeffersonville only got into trouble twice the whole game. Both times had to do with Trey Fulton. Fulton had the only two hits for Floyd Central. The sophomore had two doubles, but Astle was able to pitch out of both jams leaving Fulton at third and stranding him at second to the end the game. 

For Jeffersonville, their offense wasn’t much better.  Jeffersonville was able to get four hits off of Sipes. The biggest blow was off the bat of Drew Ellis (Louisville). Ellis ripped a line drive off the base of the left field wall which would score John Burke. The inning would end however when Dustin Gott tried to score from first and was gunned down at the plate.  

That one run was enough for the Red Devils to claim their second straight HHC Conference title in a game that took an hour and 26 minutes and only 169 pitches. 

FINAL Jeffersonville 1, Floyd Central 0