Jacob Murphy pitches for Center Grove during Tuesday’s county baseball game against Edinburgh.
Chris Williams | For the Daily Journal
Jacob Murphy’s first start as a varsity pitcher wasn’t a high-velocity frozen rope right down the middle of the strike zone.
However, it was close.
The Center Grove junior allowed one hit and struck out 10 on Tuesday to help the Trojans defeat visiting Edinburgh, 20-0, in five innings in the first round of the Johnson County baseball tournament.
As part of a pitching staff capable of going five to six starters deep, Murphy took full advantage of his time in the spotlight.
“Jacob has worked his butt off all winter, and he’ll tell you that in his last outing in the intrasquad game didn’t go great for him,” Trojans coach Keith Hatfield said. “So for him to bounce back, it was good to see.
“Five innings, 60 pitches, really efficient. He did really, really well.”
Center Grove’s offense did its part and then some, sending 20 batters to the plate in the bottom of the second inning alone on its way to a 15-run avalanche. The Trojans tacked on three runs in the third and two more in the fourth.
The Trojans (3-0-1), ranked No. 4 in Class 4A, advance into Saturday’s semifinal round.
Murphy, a right-hander, faced 17 Lancer hitters. He had a no-hitter going through the first dozen, but Edinburgh senior Ian Buchanan singled to right in the top of the fourth. Murphy walked one batter, got three more to ground out and forced a pop-out.
“I don’t think I would say I was nervous. I was more excited,” Murphy said. “I know I have the best defense in the state behind me. Just fill up the zone, let them hit it and throw strikes. Overall, I thought I pitched very well.”
Neither squad scored in the first frame, but the floodgates opened in the second, beginning with Buchanan issuing a leadoff walk to Trojans junior Garrison Barile, who stole second and then third, with junior catcher Grant Sawa drawing a walk to put runners on the corners.
Barile came home on a passed ball; junior Evan Zapp’s sacrifice fly made it a 2-0 game before consecutive doubles from Matthew Sauter and Tyler Cerny upped the lead to 4-0. Drew Culbertson and Mitchell Evans followed with hits before Zapp cleared the bases with a three-run triple.
Edinburgh (0-2) used four pitchers. Senior Riley Palmeter eventually succeeded Buchanan, followed by Landen Burton and Caleb Turner.
Center Grove finished with 14 hits and drew nine walks.
Hatfield sensed his team was focused and not about to overlook any opponent by the way the players warmed up prior to the first pitch.
“The guys took pregame very serious,” Hatfield said. “They had a good hitting session before the game. It’s a tournament game, so that does add a little extra motivation.”
