Center Grove’s Jacob Murphy pitches during Friday’s game against Whiteland.
Chris Williams | For the Daily Journal
Jacob Murphy isn’t about wasting time.
Center Grove’s junior pitcher gets the baseball, studies the sign, uses his right hand to grip the ball and delivers.
On Friday, the right-hander worked quickly and efficiently, allowing one hit in five innings of work as the Class 4A No. 1 Trojans defeated visiting Whiteland, 8-0.
“Honestly, we figured it out. We’ve lost 21 innings because of run-rule games,” Center Grove coach Keith Hatfield said. “We’re playing well, and that’s fine and good, but that’s 21 innings the pitchers haven’t had. I felt bad for a lot of those guys who should be throwing.
“Jacob only had seven innings pitched coming in, so we wanted to make sure we got him a start because what you saw is what we see all the time. Really good command of the zone.”
Murphy faced a total of 17 batters, striking out six and allowing only an infield single to freshman Peyton Dickens. Senior Elijah Matheson pitched the final two innings for the Trojans, giving up a single by junior Donavin Woodall and recording two strikeouts.
Center Grove plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, which began with Drew Culbertson’s one-out walk issued by Whiteland’s starter, freshman Blake Riddle.
Owen Guilfoy then laced a double off a 1-1 pitch to drive in the game’s first run; right fielder Garrison Barile followed with a double of his own, this one into left field, for a 2-0 score.
Culbertson scored again in the third frame, a process that began with the junior’s one-out single. He took second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a fielder’s choice before taking home after the ball got past catcher Peyton Emberton.
The Trojans tacked on two more in the fifth, with Barile scoring from second base after Grant Sawa flied out to center and the Warriors committed a throwing error. Senior leadoff hitter Tyler Cerny’s single brought home a runner for a 5-0 count.
Sophomore catcher AJ Beggs got into the act in the top of the sixth, drilling a solo homer over the left-field fence off Whiteland reliever Caden Wilburn. It became an 8-0 game later in the inning when Cerny scored from third after Mitchell Evans hit into a fielder’s choice.
Riddle gave up six hits in his five innings on the mound. He walked three, struck out one and earned the praise of Warriors coach Scott Sherry.
“Blake’s done a great job all year for us. He’s a very composed young man, and he proved today that he can compete,” Sherry said. “He did a very nice job. He kept them off balance; we make a few plays here or there, he stays in the game a little bit longer, maybe it’s a 3-0 game instead of six, seven or eight.
“When you play a team like Center Grove, your margin for error is very small. We’ve obviously got to figure out a way to get on the board, but I’m very pleased and felt our kids battled and weren’t scared.”
Center Grove (17-1-1) is at Brownsburg on Monday, while the Warriors’ (9-10) next game is Tuesday at Mid-State Conference rival Perry Meridian.
