Wolverines win sectional game

WRV's Jorden English (10) is safe at first due to an overthrow. Eminence first baseman is Mason Smith (12). The Wolverines won 5-0, earning their first sectional victory since 1997. (By Rebecca Smith).

White River Valley disposed of Eminence for the second time this season, defeating the Eels 5-0 in the opening game of the Class A Shakamak baseball sectional Thursday night at Jasonville.

It was the first postseason victory by the Wolverines since 1997, when they defeated Shakamak 7-5 and then lost 3-2 to Clay City in the bottom of the seventh inning on a two-run bloop hit in the championship game in the last single-game tournament at WRV.

"I was a sophomore back in 1997 when a WRV baseball team last won a sectional game," said WRV coach Justin English. "Shakamak had the (Scott) French kid to pitch and decided to throw off and we were able to beat them.

White River Valley freshman Preston Miller (4) is shown batting against Eminence during play at the Class A Shakamak baseball sectional Thursday night. The Wolverines won 5-0 and will play Union at approximately 1:30 p.m. Monday in the semifinals. (By Rebecca Smith)

"We were up 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh against Clay City."

The Wolverines, who won for the fourth time this year including an earlier victory over the Eels, finally showed some emotion, according to English.

"When we won games this season, the kids did not get very excited," said English. "They finally showed some emotion tonight.

"It was a great feeling for all of us. Hopefully we can keep it going."

English said the game was tied at 0-0 going to the sixth and he had a feeling it was going to go extra innings.

WRV only managed three hits themselves, but broke open a scoreless tie with two runs in the sixth and three more in the top of the seventh.

Ethan Sparks and Michael Fisher each reached via an error by Eminence and later scored in the sixth.

In the seventh, Trey Graves walked and was sacrificed into scoring position by Josh Jones.

Austin Frye was hit by a pitch and then Sparks walked and Fisher doubled to score two runs. Fisher scored on another EHS miscue.

"Once we broke our way and we broke through, we kept things rolling," said English.

Sparks tossed a two-hit shutout to pace the Wolverines.

He struck out 13 and walked two.

"Ethan did a great job on the mound," said English. "We played pretty well defensively.

"We had three errors, but they did not come back to bite us. The kids battled and made the plays the next time the ball was hit to them."

WRV will now play at approximately 1:30 p.m. Monday against Union, who received an opening-round bye.

Shakamak and Clay City will play at 11 a.m. Monday.

The championship game is set for 8 p.m. Monday.

SHAKAMAK

BASEBALL SECTIONAL 57

THURSDAY

White River Valley 000 000 0 -- 5 3 2

Eminence 000 000 0 -- 0 2 6

Rutdell and Moss; E. Sparks and Fisher.