Patriots throttle Central

Muncie Central made plenty of mistakes. The Patriots took advantage of most of them.
Each of Jay County’s first eight runs Monday were unearned as it rolled to a 12-4 victory over the visiting Bearcats.
“I saw some good things tonight,” said JCHS coach Lea Selvey. “Of course, when the bats come around it always looks good.
“The kids hit the ball pretty well.”
The Patriots (2-1) racked up 10 hits and blew the game open with six unearned runs in the third inning.
Jason Houston reached base on an error to lead off the frame and took second on an errant throw on a pickoff attempt. Tanner Reynolds drove him in with a single to center field and took second on the throw home.
Wesley Hibbard added a one-out single to center field, and Reynolds scored on a ground out by Nick Clemens. Toby McCallister reached base on an error that allowed Hibbard to score, stole second base and came home on a single by Landry Inman.
Another error allowed Alex Dunn to reach base and Inman to score. Dunn then took second base on a passed ball, stole third and scored on a wild pitch.
“It was just our whole approach,” said Central coach Rob Fisher of his disappointment with the four-error inning. “It’s just the way we come into a game. It’s the way we’ve been practicing, and this is the result. … You play like you practice, and unfortunately we’ve got some guys who haven’t figured that out yet.”
Reynolds added an RBI double during the Patriots’ three-run fifth inning as he went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run. Landry Inman added a 2-for-3 effort with two RBIs and a run, and Kyle Selvey, Houston and Dunn each scored a pair of runs.
Hibbard was strong on the mound in relief, allowing just one unearned run in 4 1/3 innings to earn the victory. He struck out one batter and allowed two hits and two walks.
Chaz Carroll retired the final two batters to finish off the victory.
“It was good to see Wes come out and do that,” said Selvey. “That’s what we needed. Basically he’s just kind of a bulldog out there, and he challenged them.
“He’s a kid that’s going to get better and better.”
Blake Bullock suffered the loss for Muncie Central, although all eight runs against him were unearned. He gave up five hits and a walk in 2 2/3 innings.
Selvey has been pleased with the way his team has rebounded since managing just two hits in a shutout loss to Wayne in the season opener. The Patriots knocked off Mississinewa 10-6 Saturday before posting their eight-run win over Central.
“I’m proud of them,” he said. “They played well Saturday. Each game they’ve gotten a little better.”[[In-content Ad]]