June 02, 2009

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The Paper photo by Lori Poteet
North Montgomery senior Tyler Jackson scored a run and recorded a hit in the team’s 6-3 sectional semifinal win.
The Paper photo by Lori Poteet
North Montgomery senior catcher Brandon Dale tries to throw out a runner at third base.
Baseball

Monday

IHSAA Danville Sectional

At Danville HS

Semifinals

Game 2

North Montgomery 6, Danville 3

Danville 200 001 0 - 3 11 6

North Montgomery 000 060 X - 6 5 0

WP: Tyler Jackson NM. LP: Jacob Butterfield D

Danville runs scored: Kyle Lawson, Lucas Jeffries

North Montgomery runs scored: Isaac McGaughey, Jackson, Drew Young, Brandon Dale, Robert Hinds, Joey Clifton

Danville RBI: Jeffries, Austin Rodriguez

North Montgomery RBI: Cody Nickle

Danville hits: Lawson 3, Jeffries 2, Rodriguez 2, Andrew Hancock, David Hess, Nick Thurston, Winston Fulton

North Montgomery hits: McGaughey 2, Young, Nickle, Jackson

2B: Lawson D 2; Rodriguez D; McGaughey NM; Young NM

Stolen bases: Danville 2 (Lawson, Jeffries), North Montgomery 0

LOB: Danville 11, North Montgomery 6

Records: North Montgomery 16-10, Danville 3-22

Reprinted courtesy of:
The Paper of Montgomery County
www.thepaper24-7.com




By Bob Cox
bcox@thepaper24-7.com

DANVILLE - You can't blame North Montgomery for feeling like they were treated well by host Danville in Monday night's Indiana High School Athletic Association Class 3A Danville Sectional.

The Chargers received all the help they needed when Sagamore Athletic Conference rival Danville committed six errors to help North Montgomery earn a 6-3 win.

The Chargers now advance to tonight's championship game against county- and conference rival Crawfordsville.

With the Chargers' offense stymied by Danville sophomore pitcher Jacob Butterfield through four innings, North Montgomery (16-10) scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 6-2 lead.

Danville (3-22) committed four errors in the inning which led to disaster for the Warriors.

North Montgomery coach Matt Voorhees said his team changed what they were doing in the fifth inning and the change helped turn the tide.

"We talked a lot about patience at the plate in the dugout tonight," Voorhees said. "Our kids finally started crowding the plate and it seemed to put pressure on their young pitcher. We put the ball in play and their defense dropped some balls."

North Montgomery second baseman Robert Hinds' perfect squeeze bunt proved to be the big play in the big fifth inning for North Montgomery.

With Danville leading 2-1, North Montgomery had the bases loaded with only one out.

Hinds laid down the bunt forcing Butterfield to throw the ball to first.

But the Danville defense broke down and Butterfield's throw to first base went all the way down the right field line.

All three Chargers' base-runners scored and Hinds moved all the way to third base.

"Coach [Voorhees] called the squeeze and I knew I had to put the ball in the right spot," Hinds said. "As I approached first base I realized I was taking off to second when I didn't see an infielder covering the bag."

Voorhees praised Hinds after the game, especially since Hinds wasn't even a starter the first part of the season.

"Robert Hinds was awesome tonight," Voorhees said. "He has grown to be our most vocal leader and that is something considering he went from sitting on the bench to being a full time starter."

North Montgomery senior Tyler Jackson took over for starting pitcher for senior Isaac McGaughey in the fifth inning to earn the win.

Voorhees gave credit to pitching coach Darren Bechtel for convincing the head coach to make the pitching change.

"Coach Bechtel came to me before Tyler started pitching and said I had to make the change," Voorhees said. "Bechtel said Tyler's warm-up was great and that he was hitting his spots."

Now, North Montgomery will prepare to take on Crawfordsville in tonight's sectional championship game.

The Athenians defeated the Chargers twice already this season.

Hinds said his team is ready for the challenge of playing the defending Class 3A State champions.

"It is exciting," Hinds said. "We have been preparing all year to play for the sectional championship. This is where we want to be, playing for championships."