Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
June 19, 2003
Section: Sports
Edition: Final
Page: D1
DUNBAR CRUISES
STATE BASEBALL
BULLDOGS GAIN SEMIS BY BLANKING WEBSTER 5-0
Mike Fields, Herald-Leader Staff Writer
They could have used the huge video screen above the center field scoreboard at Applebee’s Park last night to show a replay of any number of Paul Dunbar’s previous playoff wins.
It would have looked just like what was happening on the field — top-ranked Dunbar beating Webster County 5-0 in the first round of the Big Blue Nation/KHSAA State Baseball Tournament in front of 2,368 fans.
The victory, which puts the Bulldogs in Friday’s semifinals against Apollo, looked familiar to Dunbar Coach Mickey Marshall.
“We scratch out some runs, hang on and go to the next day,” he said of his team’s winning style.
Josh Ellis pitched his fifth superb game of the playoffs and ran his season record to 11-0. He didn’t ring up as many strikeouts as usual — he fanned five — but he was still in control most of the way. He gave up four hits before handing the ball over to Robby Reeves, who struck out the side in the seventh.
“It seems like when (Ellis) is on the mound, everybody’s confident, and that even if we get only one or two runs, we feel we’ve got the game in hand,” said Kevin Paddock, who had two hits, two RBI and scored a run to spark the offense.
Ellis got in a little trouble in the fifth and sixth when Webster County got two men on with less than two outs. But the senior right-hander escaped unscathed both times.
“Josh was hot and tired, but he took his time and got the job done,” Marshall said.
In his last 29 innings, Ellis has given up 11 hits, two runs and struck out 39.
Because Ellis pitched only six innings last night, he is eligible to go in Saturday’s finals if the Bulldogs get there.
Dunbar scored a run in each of the first three innings to jump ahead. Dustin Morrow and Ellis cracked back-to-back doubles in the third to make it 3-0.
The Bulldogs added some insurance in the seventh on Paddock’s two-run single.
If there were any after- effects from Dunbar’s seventh-inning collapse against Russell County in the second game of the semi-state, Reeves blew them away by blowing away Webster County with three straight strikeouts to end the game.
“No way were we going to give up another lead like we did against Russell County,” Paddock said after the Bulldogs improved their record to 39-4.
Webster County got a gritty pitching performance from Aaron Johnson, who went the distance, giving up seven hits, walking two and striking out seven.
It wasn’t enough, however, to keep the Trojans from losing their opening game of the state tournament for the third year in a row.
Big Blue Nation/ KHSAA Tournament
At Applebee’s Park
Last night
Apollo 7 Lawrence County 1
Paul Dunbar 5 Webster Co. 0
Today
6 p.m — Male (25-10) vs. Rockcastle County (25-12)
8:30 p.m. — Boone County (29-7) vs. LaRue County (34-3)
Friday
6 p.m. — Apollo (29-12) vs. Paul Dunbar (39-4)
8:30 p.m. — Male-Rockcastle County winner vs. Boone County-LaRue County winner
Saturday
7 p.m. — Championship game
Tickets: $7 and $10 at gate
Radio: WMJR-AM 1380 will air Dunbar games
Apollo rolls 7-1 in opener.
Page D8
(1) by PHOTOS BY JANET WORNE , STAFF – Brock Dunbar of Webster County dived back to first after a failed steal attempt while Dunbar’s Dustin Morrow waited for the throw.
(2) – Josh Ellis improved to 11-0, blanking Webster County on four hits over six innings. He struck out five. “Josh was hot and tired, but he took his time and got the job done,” Coach Mickey Marshall said.
(3) – Apollo’s Ryne Mantooth held Lawrence County to three hits over six innings. The junior right-hander also singled and doubled.