Selvey has high hopes

Ever since 2008, the Patriots have been searching.
That Jay County High School baseball team went 25-3 and finished with the third-most home runs in a season by any team in state history with 65.
The Patriots went 11-11 in 2009, but have had three straight losing seasons since then. Coach Lea Selvey hopes that this year’s squad can get back above .500 and beyond.
“I don’t know if this team is going to be capable of winning 20, but I’m going to talk to them about being a team that can compete in the sectional,” said JCHS coach Lea Selvey. “We just have to play solid baseball. If our pitchers will throw strikes and not walk anybody and we don’t make errors and we put the ball in play then we’ve got a chance.”
Jay County seemed to be moving in the right direction last season after going just 6-18 in 2011. It got off to a hot start, winning seven of its first 10 games.
But the Patriots proceeded to lose nine of their next 10. They went on to finish 11-17 and fell 13-0 in the sectional semifinal round to Fort Wayne South Side, which went on to win the title and then defeat McCutcheon in the regional semifinal round before falling to Zionsville in the regional championship game.
Jay County brings back three of its four starting infielders and a pair of starting outfielders from last season, including two of its best hitters.
Kyle Selvey, Lea’s son, and Jason Houston paced the Patriots in most offensive categories last season as they hit .326 and .293 respectively.
Houston, the third baseman, had team highs of 10 RBIs, six doubles and a .467 on-base percentage to go along with 11 steals.
Selvey, who will play shortstop, hit one of the team’s few home runs while adding eight RBIs and four doubles. He posted a .406 on-base percentage.
Also returning are center fielder Alex Dunn, second baseman Landry Inman and left fielder Keenan James. Dunn led Jay County with 11 stolen bases during his junior campaign.
“I think we can be really good defensively,” said Selvey. “They’ve worked hard. They’ve had good attitudes. We’ve had them for a few years and now some of those kids are juniors and seniors and they’re seasoned.
“We’re not going to yank the ball out of the yard, but if we can hit-and-run and steal (we’ll be in good shape),” he added of his team’s offense. “I think we’ll have a few more doubles than we did last year. We’re going to try to be a little more aggressive on the bases and try to make things happen that way.”
Nick Clemens and Zach Pryor, both sophomores, will play at first base and right field respectively. Hibbard and Josh Lykins will share catching duties, and Tanner Reynolds and Toby McCallister are expected to see time in the infield and outfield respectively.
Lea Selvey will count on a large group of pitchers, with Inman and Kyle Selvey leading the way. Kyle Selvey won three games last year with a 2.18 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings, and Inman had a 3.65 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings.
Other pitchers include Houston, James, Reynolds and McCallister.
“It’s hard for me to say who is No. 1,” said Lea Selvey. “I would say right now all of our pitchers are better than what we were last year.
“We don’t have that 90-mile-an-hour ace or even an 85-mile-an-hour guy … but we have a bunch of kids who are throwing strikes and changing speeds well.
“Early you might see us get three or four innings out of a kid and switch.
“I’m pleased with where we’re at right now.”
Jay County didn’t get quite where it hoped to be in terms of its record last season, but still made strides as it nearly doubled its win total from 2011. Selvey is looking to continue that progress this year.
“Last year I thought we had a team that could get to .500, and we just couldn’t win a close game,” said Selvey. “There were several games against good, quality teams … that we should have won.
“I’m anxious to get started.
“They’re going to be fun to watch.
“They just seem to be a group that has fun, but they want to win.”[[In-content Ad]]