PREP BASEBALL
Late homer not enough as Trojans march on
Southeastern avenges an earlier loss to Bethel with a 5-2 win and will face No. 2 seed Tri-Village for the sectional title on Saturday.
Friday, May 16, 2008
TIPP CITY — Sometimes J.C. Cooke lets the adversity get to him. He wouldn't be human if that didn't happen. The key is to not let it happen that often.
Southeastern's senior ace lost a shutout in the seventh inning Thursday, May 15, when he gave up a two-run home run to Tipp City Bethel's Josh Myers with no outs, but he didn't lose the game, and he didn't lose his composure.
Extras
J.C. CookeCooke gave up a single and a walk after the home run. Then he got a pop-up for an out and two strikeouts to secure a 5-2 victory for the No. 4 seed Trojans over the No. 3 seed Bees in a Division IV sectional baseball semifinal at Frosty Brown Field.
"You have to be confident," said Cooke of how he got through the final inning. "You just kind of get frustrated at times. It happens."
"He worked out of it," Southeastern coach Rick Woods said. "He did a nice job. He battled and did what he needed to do to get a win."
Southeastern lost to Bethel in the regular season 4-3 on April 23.
The Trojans (15-13) advance to face No. 2 seed Tri-Village (15-7) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Newton High School. Southeastern last won a sectional championship in 2006.
Cooke struck out seven Bees. He walked the first batter of the game but didn't walk another until the first batter of the seventh. His teammates played error-free baseball behind him.
More importantly, Aaron Woods, who went 3-for-4, and Mitch Burton hit RBI singles in the first as the Trojans built a 2-0 lead. They added runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings.
"My guys gave me a good lead, and you just go with it," Cooke said. "They helped a lot. It gave me a lot more confidence on the mound. I don't have to worry. I just throw strikes."
The Trojans won for the fifth time in the last six games, and Cooke improved to 3-4.
"J.C. has thrown well all year," Woods said. "His record isn't fair to him. He's pitched most of our tougher games."
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0351 or djablonski@coxohio.com.
