Patriots advance with win over GC

YORKTOWN — Chandler Jacks stood on the mound surrounded by Golden Eagles on the bases.
Four hits had already brought home one run. The potential game-tying run was at second base, the game-winner at first.
But he didn’t seem nervous. All game the opposition had gotten into scoring situations, but failed to strike for a big inning.
Jacks just went to work with his curveball, and Guerin Catholic junior Trevor George lofted a high fly ball. Michael Schlechty glided under it, making the catch in deep right-center field for the final out that secured a 4-2 win for the Jay County High School over the Golden Eagles in the Class 3A sectional semifinal.
“He’s kind of like our Bronson Arroyo without the leg kick,” said JCHS coach Lea Selvey, comparing the senior to the Major Leaguer who has pitched for Pittsburgh, Boston, Cincinnati and Arizona. “He just seems to come at you, come at you, get behind, come at you and … induce you into something or other. …
“The kids believe in him. They’re all believing in each other right now.”
The victory sends the Patriots to the sectional championship game for the first time since 2008, when they lost to Homestead on a walk-off grand slam. They have not won a sectional title since 2007, the last time they played in Class 3A.
“It feels great to be a part of it,” said Jacks. “It feels great to help us get there. …
“It was just a great experience. I’m really excited.”
Jay County (14-12) never trailed after scoring two runs in the top of the first inning Friday, but the pressure was constantly on. Jacks recorded only a single one-two-three inning — the third — as the Golden Eagles put two runners on base in the second, fourth, fifth and sixth. In all those chances though, they netted just one run.
Guerin Catholic (19-10) threatened again in the bottom of the seventh after leadoff man Cameron Kirsch opened the frame with a single to right field.
He scored on a Kyle Hennie single to center to close the gap to two runs, and a fielder’s choice by Luke Buehler and an infield single from Cole Hepp loaded the bases with two outs.
That’s when Jacks, calm as ever, continued his dominance of George to end the game. Both of the senior’s strikeouts in the victory came against the Eagles’ No. 7 hitter.
Though George was the only player to strikeout, finding a comfort zone against Jacks’ steady diet of breaking balls was a problem for the entire Guerin Catholic lineup.
“The kid threw a nice curveball,” said Guerin Catholic coach Seth Paul. “We just didn’t make adjustments to it.
“The game’s about adjustments. We didn’t adjust to it.”
Jacks gave up nine hits, but was able to work his way around them for most of the game. He walked just two in the win.
“We hunt fastballs,” said Paul. “But we also have to be good enough to make adjustments. When a guy is throwing 70 percent curveballs, you’ve got to be able to adjust and hit the curveball. And we started too after about the fifth inning, but it was too late.
“The kid threw a heck of a game.”
The Patriots set the tone early when Ryan Schlechty drew a leadoff walk, and fellow freshman Wyatt Geesaman immediately drove him in with a double to left field. Jay County loaded the bases, and Wyatt Geesaman reached the plate on a sacrifice fly by Jacks.
Guerin Catholic got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Patriots responded with a run in the top of the sixth. Max Moser was hit by a pitch, stole second base and then hustled around to the plate on an infield single by Andy Kohler.
Senior Josh Vaughn, who came off the bench in place of designated hitter Cole Stigleman, clobbered a double to left-center field in the top of the seventh to score Wyatt Geesaman with the final insurance run.
“Everyone’s been telling me all year that it’ll come eventually,” said Vaughn. “And it came in a big spot.
“I was hoping (the center fielder) wasn’t going to catch it. … I was really happy. I’m glad I finally got that.”
Wyatt Geesaman finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI, and freshman Michael Schlecthy, Ryan’s twin brother, was 2-for-3 with a double. Myers also had two hits, and Moser had a pair of stolen bases, one hit and one run.
The Patriots will play Delta at 6 p.m. Monday for the sectional title. The Eagles, who blasted JCHS 11-1 on May 16, fought off Hamilton Heights 1-0 in Friday’s second semifinal.
Selvey believes topping Guerin Catholic was the confidence boost his team needed.
“We needed that … because we’ve beat the people we should beat and we’ve competed with the others,” he said. “But we haven’t beat the others. Now they know they can beat the others.
“I’m very pleased with these kids. They have stuck with it and battled … and they’re really starting to believe. I think they believed that they could be good, and now I think they know they can.”