Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
June 13, 2003
Section: Sports
Edition: Final
Page: D1
ELLIS FANS 13, DRIVES IN 3
PAUL DUNBAR BLASTS RUSSELL COUNTY 6-1
BULLDOG THROWS FOURTH COMPLETE GAME OF POST-SEASON
Mike Fields, Herald-Leader Staff Writer
Paul Dunbar senior Josh Ellis had knee surgery during the winter, so he had to suffer through months of rehabilitation before finally being able to pitch again in mid-April.
Now it’s Dunbar’s baseball opponents who are suffering.
Ellis turned in another dominating performance to lead the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs to a 6-1 win over Russell County last night in the first game of a best-of-three semi-state series.
Ellis gave up two hits and struck out 13 while posting his fourth complete-game win of the playoffs. In 28 innings of work this post-season, he has 40 strikeouts and given up only 12 hits.
“I really didn’t feel I had my best stuff, but it was good enough,” said Ellis, who is 10-0 with an 0.75 earned run average.
Ellis was also the hitting star last night, ripping a pair of doubles and driving in three runs. “That was a big surprise,” he said. “I hadn’t been hitting the ball well at all in the regional.”
Dunbar (37-3) needs one more win to earn a trip to the state tournament at Applebee’s Park next week.
Russell County (26-10) must beat the Bulldogs twice tonight to get that bid.
The Lakers will go with senior ace Chris Grider (9-1) in tonight’s opener. Dunbar will counter with sophomore Robby Reeves (6-1).
Russell County was shaky with the gloves last night, making five errors and misplaying a couple other balls hit to the outfield.
A late afternoon rain that delayed the game for an hour and 40 minutes made for sloppy conditions in the outfield.
“That was a big part of it,” Coach David Rexroat said. “But we just can’t make so many infield errors.”
Dunbar was flawless in the field, with third baseman David Lashbrook providing the highlight. With the Bulldogs nursing a 2-0 lead in the fourth, Russell County’s Victor Wooldridge doubled and got to third on a fly-out.
Grider hit a grounder that looked like it would get through the infield. But Lashbrook made a diving stop and fired to first to get Grider for the third out.
“I thought that took a lot of momentum away from them,” Dunbar Coach Mickey Marshall said. “A great effort by David Lashbrook.”
Dunbar got ahead early, taking a 1-0 lead in the first on Rob Scott’s single and Ellis’ double. The hosts made it 2-0 in the second when Kevin Paddock doubled and scored on an error.
The Bulldogs broke it open with four runs in the fifth off Lakers starter Ryne Thomas. He didn’t get much help as his defense made a couple of errors.
Russell County ended Ellis’ string of 15 consecutive scoreless innings by getting a run in the seventh on Joe Huckaby’s double and Grider’s sacrifice fly.
What would Rexroat tell his team after the loss?
“To stay focused,” he said. “We’ve got to make plays tomorrow and get some runs. We know (Grider) will keep us in the game.”
Russell County 000 000 1–1 2 5
Paul Dunbar 110 040 x–6 8 0
Ryne Thomas, Nick McGowan (6) and Tyler Cochran. Josh Ellis and Davis Stanley. W–Ellis (10-0) L–Thomas (4-2) 2B–Ellis (PD) 2, Kevin Paddock (PD), Rob Scott (PD).
Records–Russell County 26-10; Paul Dunbar 37-3
Semi-state baseball
Russell County at Paul Dunbar
What: Best-of-three series
When: 6 tonight; 8:30 p.m. (if necessary)
Schedule,
Page D6
(1) by PHOTOS BY JANET WORNE , STAFF – Paul Dunbar pitcher Josh Ellis gave up only two hits last night against Russell County as the Bulldogs won 6-1.
(2) by JANET WORNE STAFF – Russell County’s Zach Wilson tagged out Paul Dunbar’s Kevin Paddock. Russell County needs to win both games tonight to advance.
(3) – Dunbar teammates congratulated David Lashbrook after his diving stop and throw to first ended the fourth inning with a man on third.