By Ted Waddell
JEFFERSONVILLE — April 20, 2004 – In baseball, there are big innings and shout-out shutouts.
For the Sullivan West Bulldogs, Thursday’s outing against the Gladiators of Goshen was a bit of both, as the home team pulled off a 3-0 shutout victory in the non-league game. SW scored what turned out to the be the game’s only runs in the first inning.
Bill Nordenhold led off with a single, followed by a single by Ryan Taylor. Matt Berger grounded out to third after the base runners advanced.
Joe Meyer walked to load the bases.
A single by Lloyd Shaffer scored Nordenhold. Sean Kelly hit into a fielder’s choice, forcing Shaffer out at second base as the play placed runners at first and third as Taylor crossed the plate.
As Kelly was picked off and caught in a rundown between first and second, Meyer scored the final run of the game from the hot corner to make it a 3-0 shutout for Sullivan West (1-1).
Taylor grabbed the win for the Bulldogs. He faced 26 batters, allowed only three hits, struck out eight and issued one walk.
In the final inning, Goshen (0-4) got a runner past second base into scoring position at third. But it was a little too late for a rally.
Earlier in the game, Kelly, the Bulldogs’ starting left fielder, sustained a dislocated shoulder as he slid back into first base on an attempted pickoff.
“I thought it was very well played baseball game on both sides,” Goshen Coach Matt Sass said. “Their pitcher was right there in the strike zone and did what he had to do . . . he stayed ahead in the count.”
Sass said that after things quieted down in the wake of the Bulldogs’ three-run first inning, his hurler, B. J. Hearn, “settled in.”
“We’re improving and plan to be right there when sectional time comes,” Sass added.
Sullivan West Coach Kurt Scheibe Jr. is a man of few words, although when the mood strikes he can wax poetic about America’s Pastime.
His take on the game?
“A shutout in our first home game is an excellent way to start,” Scheibe said.