Sweeping comeback

Aggressiveness at key moments combined with patience throughout and some big innings from young arms gave the Patriots a doubleheader sweep.
Mitchel Frasher’s fourth-inning grand slam in the opener and back-to-back doubles from Jacob Geesaman and Ethan Myers in the sixth inning of game two provided the sparks Saturday. They were aided by 22 free bases — 18 on walks and four more when batters were hit by a pitch — and the combined 12-inning effort from two freshmen and a sophomore.
All of those things were key to the Jay County High School baseball team erasing deficits in both games as it defeated the Centerville Bulldogs 13-3 in five innings and 7-5.
“The first ball game we played really well for three and a half innings, and then a couple hits and the grand slam changed the whole tone,” said Centerville coach Tracey Crull. “You can’t put people on base.”
The Patriots (3-2) looked like they might be in for a long day when Centerville put a run on the board in the first inning and then bumped its lead up to 3-0 in the third. But everything changed when Frasher stepped to the plate in the fourth.
JCHS had pulled to within 3-2 and the bases were loaded with two outs thanks to walks from Andy Kohler, Wyatt Geesaman and Ryan Schlechty. Frasher watched a couple of pitches — both balls — go past him before unleashing his bat on the next one. His shot flew to deep left field over Peyton Hobson of the Bulldogs, bounced on the top of the fence and continued over for a grand slam.
“I knew I hit it pretty good, and then I took off running,” said Frasher, who didn’t follow the ball to see it ricochet out of the park. “Then (first-base coach Josh Selvey) gave me a high five and I knew it was gone. So I just jogged the bases. It was pretty nice.”
It marked the team’s second grand slam in its first four games as Jacob Geesaman hit one in the season-opening win over Eastbrook.
Centerville (3-3) escaped the inning without further damage, but pitchers Matt Stamper, Tyler Phenis and Trey Wilson combined to give up six walks in the fifth as the Patriots scored seven times to end the game early.
The control issues continued to plague the Bulldogs early in the second game as they gave up five walks and hit a batter while Jay County took a 4-0 lead. However, they were able to climb back on top and took a 5-4 lead into the sixth inning.
The top of the Patriots’ order didn’t allow it to stand.
Geesaman led off the bottom of the sixth with a double to left field, and Myers immediately followed it with a two-bagger of his own to left-center to tie the game. JCHS eventually loaded the bases, taking the lead on an RBI single by freshman Wyatt Geesaman, Jacob’s brother, and tacking on another run when Max Moser was hit by a pitch.
“He’s one of the guys who’s got the most experience, and he’s swinging a hot bat right now,” said Selvey of Jacob Geesaman. “As your leader, he’s going to go up there and battle. And he did that.”
After Wyatt Geesaman went the distance for the win in game one, Selvey expected to use a committee of pitchers to try to get through the second game. So when he turned to Gaven Hare in the fourth inning of game two, he hoped to get an inning.
Hare instead struck out two in a one-two-three inning in the fourth. Selvey stuck with the sophomore, who gave up a run in the fifth but then shut down the Bulldogs and struck out Ricky Torres to end the game. He earned the win as he recorded seven strikeouts, routinely freezing Centerville batters with his 12-6 curveball, while giving up just one hit.
“It was a godsend for us,” said Selvey. “It was an unbelievable performance from him. … They couldn’t hit his curveball. He had a nice little breaker. …
“It was just exactly what we needed because I’ve got some guys a little sore right now. … It was just a gutty performance on his part.”
Chandler Jacks had three hits and three runs on the day for the Patriots. Max Moser finished 2-for-3 with a double and three runs while drawing three walks. Frasher’s four RBIs led the team, and Myers, Moser and Schlechty added two apiece.
The Patriots earned the sweep without starting shortstop Cole Stigleman, who remained out with a broken toe. He hopes to return to action this week.