Jimtown High School

Jimmies fall to Boone Grove in Regional baseball By Red Williams Freelance Sportswriter LAPORTE – The Jimmies simply had no answers to a fine pitching performance from Boone Grove’s Xavier Carrera, dropping a 9-0 contest here in the Class 2A Regional Final. Carrera had a full arsenal of pitches as he stymied Jimtown for one hit, striking out 14, allowing just three walks. “It was a great season,” remarked Jimmy Head Coach Brandon Squibb, “but I told them if this is the worst thing to happen, we are truly blessed.” The Jimmies finish the season with a 22-8 record and capped off the season by winning their first sectional in 18 years. It was a spectacular year for Jimtown baseball. “I think baseball and life treats you that way,” Squibb said. “Today we just couldn’t get the clutch hit we needed to get some runs. I’m proud of our seniors for their positive character and they will have a good life.” The Jimmies lone hit was a dying blooper into right field by Colin Davis in the fifth inning. The Boys of Baugo actually mounted a bit of a rally that inning, loading the bases with Davis’ hit, a walk and hit-batsman. But Connor Christman, the Jimmies’ top batter (.460) then flied out to center to end the threat No Jimmy even got on base the rest of the game. Carrera finished by striking the last six batters in succession. And the Jimmies’ defense went rather sideways, as well. The Wolves scored a pair of runs in the first inning with just an infield hit, walk and hit batter. A sharp grounder back to the mound bounced off pitcher Mason Armstrong, who then threw wildly to first, for the first of three Jimtown errors. But it was even worse in the second frame as Boone Grove batted around and scored five runs on just two hits. There were four walks, another JHS error and a runner scored from third while the Jimmies had a teammate in a run-down between first and second. The Wolves now move into the Semi-State round next week with a 23-6 record. Their opponent was undetermined at press time, and the date and location will be announced Sunday by the IHSAA. Score by innings: Jimtown 000 000 0 – 0 1 3 Boone Grove 150 002 X – 9 8 0 Umpires: John Flanagan, Mark Herberger, Ron Ormes, Tom Stefaniak