Charles Prince

The North Jefferson News



MORRIS — The Mortimer Jordan Blue Devils stunned the No. 8-ranked Russellville Golden Tigers in game one of their best-of-three second round playoff series Friday night, by never giving up.

The Devils never backed down from the highly-ranked Tigers pulled off the win after getting down to their last strike. Senior catcher Rob Glenn crushed an 0-2 fastball over the left field fence with two outs and one runner on in the bottom of the seventh inning for a stunning 3-1 Jordan victory and a 1-game lead in the series.

“People can say what they want about us, and we might not be the most talented team around, but I’ll tell you one thing, this group never quits,” Jordan head coach Shayne Carnes said.

Glenn heroics came just a half inning after Russellville looked to be in great position to take the lead.

The Golden Tigers loaded the bases in the top of the frame with only one out and the game tied at 1-each.

However, Carnes then changed pitchers, taking out starter Skylar Myrick, who had thrown 6 1/3 innings of three-hit ball, while striking out four, and replacing him with Joey Payton.

Payton induced a ground ball from Russellville’s Cory Flannigan, which Jordan third baseman Ryan Densmore field and fired home to Glenn to cut down Russellville’s Seth Crawford before he could score the lead run.

Next Payton induced a ground out to end the threat.

Jordan took the first lead of the game in the bottom of the second inning, when Nick Love walked and proceeded to steal second base.

Jordan’s John “Jabo” Burrow then hit sharp grounder to the outfield grass that skipped off the glove off the Russellville second baseman, allowing Love to come home with the game’s first run.

Russellville tied the game up in the sixth inning when Jacob Daniel was hit by a pitch and then scored on Matt Baird double off the left field fence.

“When they scored to tie it up, we could have quit, but the kids kept playing and they made the one play we needed,” Carnes said.

Glenn, who had struck out twice before the seventh inning, knew exactly what pitch to look in the seventh inning.

“Every time I was up, he threw me a fastball for strike three,” Glenn said. “I knew what was coming and I gave it a good swing. I didn’t mind the pressure at all. I knew I could hit the ball well in that situation.”