Friday---Jeffersonville vs Ft Wayne Carroll                           

Two time defending 4A state champions, Fort Wayne Carroll travelled down to southern Indiana to take on #9 Jeffersonville. Jeffersonville entered the game with a 1-0 record. Trent Astle (#17 ranked 2013) started the game on the mound for Jeffersonville. Astle was consistently 83-86 in the first striking out the first two hitters he faced.

In the bottom half of the first, Jeffersonville struck first. Isacc Crafton (#18 ranked 2013 Liberty Commit) hit a one out single followed by a Drew Ellis (#2 ranked 2014) line drive to left. Trent Astle helped himself with a sacrifice fly out to put Jeffersonville up 1-0. Carroll starting pitcher was Peyton Lengacher (unsigned 2012). Lengacher is a 6 foot 3 200lb low ¾ arm action guy that sat 81-84 and showed a good slurve.

In the third with Carroll trailing by 3, the momentum switched sides. Triggered by several Jeffersonville errors and a couple of walks, Carroll scored 6 runs in the top half of the inning. Ross Koble picked up a two run single followed by a Taylor Goshen two run double.  Jeffersonville would respond with a couple of runs of their own but it was too little. Carroll would hold on to win 8-5.

My early season thoughts on two of the top programs in the state

Carroll--- It is no secret why this team is two time defending state champions. Little things. I watched them play twice this weekend and all you heard out of coaches and players mouths were to do the little things. Coach Ginder has gotten a program to buy into what he is teaching. With it being early in the year, it was obviously not a perfect weekend by any means. As this program continues to improve on those little things, Carroll will once again be the team to beat comes state tournament time.

Jeffersonville--- This team is loaded with talent. They are deep on the mound with juniors Astle, Gallagher, and Meyer. Crafton is really strong behind the plate and Ellis is one of the best players in the state at any class. Throw in seniors Garwood, Conway and Franz and they should have enough experience and talent to make a deep run.