Kyle Sipes, Floyd Central Win Pitchers Duel

By Ben Grossberg

Bedford – Game two of Sectional 15 had No. 3 Floyd Central and No. 19 New Albany facing off. Last time these two teams met Floyd scored five runs in the top of the seventh to get a 6-2 win in the HHC Tournament. The first game was a pitcher’s duel, between Floyd’s Kyle Sipes and New Albany’s Brandon Johnson, until the Floyd offensive explosion in the seventh. This game stayed a pitching duel throughout with both pitchers, Sipes and Johnson again, dominating the opposing offense.

Floyd jumped out to an early lead taking advantage of a New Albany error. Derek DeSpain drew a one out walk to get the inning started, but Johnson set down the next batter. Trey Fulton then came through with a two out single and Colton Kimm drew a walk to load the bases. Ross Lundy came up and hit a groundball to short. The shortstop misplayed the ball allowing DeSpain and Fulton to score giving Floyd a 2-0 lead. Johnson struck out the next batter to end the inning. 

Sipes only trouble came in the third when he gave up one run. After striking out the first batter he allowed back to back walks Dylan Cook and Tucker Macum. A ground ball to short loaded the bases when Marcum beat the throw to second. After Sipes struck out the next batter he gave up a bases loaded walk to Jack Shine cutting the lead to 2-1. Sipes set down the next batter to stop any further damage. 

After the each team scored their runs the starting pitchers dominated the rest of the game. Johnson didn’t allow a hit from the second inning until the leadoff hitter of the seventh inning, retiring 13 of 14 during that stretch. Sipes matched him after the third retiring 13 of the last 14, including the last 11 batters he faced.

The defensive play of the game came in sixth inning. New Albany’s Zach Worrall lead off the inning with a line drive to left that looked to be destined for extra bases, buyt Floyd left fielder Michael Springer made a diving catch to keep Worrall of the bases and halt any rally.

In the seventh Sipes set down New Albany 1-2-3. He struck out the first batter, got a fly out to center for the second out, and a groundout to end it. Floyd advances to play Bedford North Lawrence in the sectional semifinal.

Johnson took the loss throwing six innings allowing no earned runs, three hits, three walks, and struck out six.

Sipes went all seven innings allowing one earned run, two hits, three walks, and struck out three to get the victory.