JEFFERSONVILLE - The word first carries with it a special connotation, one that often offers the hope and possibility of other good things to come. Consider: first born, first love, first light or a first win. To appreciate the impact of Eldred’s Josh Warmings 2 hit 6-0 shutout of Sullivan West, one must take into account not just the sterling performance from the sophomore hurler with so much promise, made evident by his 13 strikeouts of the Bulldogs, but the fact that the victory was the very first accrued by an Eldred’s boys team this school year.

In the fall, the Yellowjackets could not field a boys soccer team and the football team went winless in the eight-man campaign. Then in winter came the boys’ basketball season producing an empty win column. This spring began with a 16-0 loss to Chester, but baseball coach Josh Santoro and his assistant Brian Warming knew that was hardly the team’s best effort. Besides, Chester is likely to put the hurt on many other teams this spring before they ascend to Class B next year. Speaking of firsts, Sullivan West did get off to a great first game start with its 17-2 win over Liberty. But now let’s turn the conversation to the first inning of this non-league matchup.

Sullivan West hurler Justin Grund took to the hill and struck out Dan Furlipa but he hit Matt Renaudo who promptly stole second and then third. An E5 plated the first Eldred run. Another stolen base and another E5 set the table for the second run as Patty Adams reached on a fielder’s choice. When Warming took the ball to fire his first pitch, he was already staked to a 2-0 lead.

With a fast ball flirting with 80mph, and an occasional curve and change up, he struck out the side. Grund settled down in the second notching a trio of strike outs. Warming hit Max Ebert to start the second but quickly retired the side notching two more K’s. Eldred added another run in the third with back-to-back singles by Warming and Adams.

Warming kept things sizzling in the bottom of the stanza by fanning the Bulldogs in order. After a scoreless fourth inning, Eldred erupted for three more runs after Grund had issued a pair of walks and a single to Sean Furler. Adams notched his second RBI and Kyle Daw knocked in two more with a single. Eldred’s 6-0 lead held up as Warming went on to a complete game win via 95 pitches and as mentioned, 13 K’s.

Sullivan West’s only two hits came off the bats of Jacob Hubert and Jaymes Buddenhagen. Ryan Sayers came on in relief of Grund in the seventh inning. Both teams now hold 1-1 records. Coach Santoro noted, “I’m very happy for these boys to get the first win for boys sports this year. We’re a very young team with only one senior and four freshmen but we’re showing signs of improvement and I’m looking forward to a great year.”

As to Warming, Santoro added, “He’s young with a ton of talent. He’s only going to get better. If this group puts it together, they’re going to be special. They could go far this year.”

Sullivan West’s next outing is versus Livingston Manor today back on Lyons Field. Eldred traveled to Class B Burke yesterday.