June 8, 2018 at 4:49 p.m.
Jay ready for fight with ’59ers
Semi-state game slated for 3 p.m. at Kokomo’s Municipal Stadium
Jay ready for fight with ’59ers
They know what they’re up against.
The Fighting ‘59ers are the top-ranked team in the state and feature the best pitcher they’ve faced all season, a future Vanderbilt Commordore.
There are two more players headed to NCAA Division I programs, too.
And they’re no strangers to the stage.
The Andrean ‘59ers (29-6) have five state championships, including back-to-back titles in 2014 and ‘15.
But as the Jay County High School baseball team prepared this week to meet Andrean in the Class 3A semi-state championship at approximately 3 p.m. Saturday at Municipal Stadium in Kokomo, a spectator during practice would be hard-pressed to decipher the magnitude of the challenge.
The Patriots (20-6) just aren’t fazed by it.
“Right now it seems like everyone is more relaxed than anything,” said junior Ryan Schlechty, who struck out the final batter of the game Saturday to secure a 7-6 win over Yorktown for the program’s third regional title and first in 25 years. “Just talking about it a little bit, we’re not worried. We don’t have anything to be worried about. Just go in there as underdog and play as well as we can.”
That’s often easier said than done, especially for a Patriot team that at times didn’t play its best during the sectional tournament but still managed to win the trophy for the first time in 11 years May 28. Days later in the regional final, Jay County fell behind 3-0 in the first inning because of sloppy play.
The best asset for the Patriots this season has been their ability to not get down on themselves when they’re behind on the scoreboard. That mindset, and a few miscues from Yorktown, helped Jay County reach this stage in the first place.
“Honestly I think as a team, as a whole, I don’t think we really stress at all,” senior Payton Heniser said. “We kind of go into every game looking to have fun and I think that’s the most important part about it.”
When Heniser and the Patriots step into the batter’s boxes at Municipal Stadium on Saturday, standing 60-feet, 6 inches, away will be Mike Doolin, a junior Vanderbilt commit. Before regional play, Doolin sported an 0.45 ERA, struck out 96 batters and 31 RBIs at the plate.
In the regional final, the ‘59ers beat defending state champion South Bend St. Joseph 2-1, and Doolin was dealing. He allowed one earned run in 6 1/3 innings before reaching his 120-pitch limit. He struck out 11 and walked five to move to 9-1 on the year.
The Fighting ‘59ers are the top-ranked team in the state and feature the best pitcher they’ve faced all season, a future Vanderbilt Commordore.
There are two more players headed to NCAA Division I programs, too.
And they’re no strangers to the stage.
The Andrean ‘59ers (29-6) have five state championships, including back-to-back titles in 2014 and ‘15.
But as the Jay County High School baseball team prepared this week to meet Andrean in the Class 3A semi-state championship at approximately 3 p.m. Saturday at Municipal Stadium in Kokomo, a spectator during practice would be hard-pressed to decipher the magnitude of the challenge.
The Patriots (20-6) just aren’t fazed by it.
“Right now it seems like everyone is more relaxed than anything,” said junior Ryan Schlechty, who struck out the final batter of the game Saturday to secure a 7-6 win over Yorktown for the program’s third regional title and first in 25 years. “Just talking about it a little bit, we’re not worried. We don’t have anything to be worried about. Just go in there as underdog and play as well as we can.”
That’s often easier said than done, especially for a Patriot team that at times didn’t play its best during the sectional tournament but still managed to win the trophy for the first time in 11 years May 28. Days later in the regional final, Jay County fell behind 3-0 in the first inning because of sloppy play.
The best asset for the Patriots this season has been their ability to not get down on themselves when they’re behind on the scoreboard. That mindset, and a few miscues from Yorktown, helped Jay County reach this stage in the first place.
“Honestly I think as a team, as a whole, I don’t think we really stress at all,” senior Payton Heniser said. “We kind of go into every game looking to have fun and I think that’s the most important part about it.”
When Heniser and the Patriots step into the batter’s boxes at Municipal Stadium on Saturday, standing 60-feet, 6 inches, away will be Mike Doolin, a junior Vanderbilt commit. Before regional play, Doolin sported an 0.45 ERA, struck out 96 batters and 31 RBIs at the plate.
In the regional final, the ‘59ers beat defending state champion South Bend St. Joseph 2-1, and Doolin was dealing. He allowed one earned run in 6 1/3 innings before reaching his 120-pitch limit. He struck out 11 and walked five to move to 9-1 on the year.
“Any time you face a kid that’s committed to Vanderbilt that’s a little intimidating right there,” Heniser said. “I think what we’re doing (in the batting cage at practice) we should be well-prepared to take them on.
“I don’t think we’re going to have six home runs (like the sectional final against Bellmont), but we should get the job done.”
Clay Thompson — the Oakland University commit is also 8-1 and is batting .376 with 10 doubles, 30 RBIs and 34 runs before regional — got the two-out save in relief of Doolin.
Andrean’s Nick Fushi is heading to Ball State University in the fall, completing the ’59ers’ three-pronged attack.
It’s hard to imagine, despite the circumstances of Saturday’s game — the 2005-06 JCHS basketball and 2014 gymnastics teams are the only squads in school history to compete for a state championship — the Patriots are able to remain so even-keeled this week.
“I think this team just has a good atmosphere, a good chemistry,” Heniser said. “We pretty much just try to make everyone else laugh and keep everything light-hearted.
“I think that’s the best part about it. We don’t really take anything too seriously. That’s probably one of our biggest weapons in a way.”
The only major change the Patriots made this week heading into the matchup with the ’59ers on Saturday is spending three days practicing at on the turf field at Ball State. Kokomo’s Municipal Stadium is made entirely of field turf, so Jay County has made the trek southwest to get in some time playing on the new surface.
“Little bit faster,” JCHS coach Lea Selvey said. “The ball is going to get on you quicker. Give yourself a little more time, give yourself a little bit more range (and) trust your arms.”
Northfield and Daleville meet in the Class 1A semi-state game at 1 p.m., and Jay County will take the field shortly thereafter to chase the program’s first semi-state championship.
“Somebody is going to win, somebody is going to lose,” Selvey said. “You just hope there are no goats, just a hero.
“Just go give your best effort and if it works out, great. If it doesn’t work out that’s the way it is.”
Should the Patriots succumb to the ’59ers, Heniser and his seven senior classmates will cap their careers at a level only three teams in the history of baseball in Jay County have reached.
“Honestly (it’s) something I’ll remember for the rest of my life and I think that’s a cool thing,” he said.
“I don’t think we’re going to have six home runs (like the sectional final against Bellmont), but we should get the job done.”
Clay Thompson — the Oakland University commit is also 8-1 and is batting .376 with 10 doubles, 30 RBIs and 34 runs before regional — got the two-out save in relief of Doolin.
Andrean’s Nick Fushi is heading to Ball State University in the fall, completing the ’59ers’ three-pronged attack.
It’s hard to imagine, despite the circumstances of Saturday’s game — the 2005-06 JCHS basketball and 2014 gymnastics teams are the only squads in school history to compete for a state championship — the Patriots are able to remain so even-keeled this week.
“I think this team just has a good atmosphere, a good chemistry,” Heniser said. “We pretty much just try to make everyone else laugh and keep everything light-hearted.
“I think that’s the best part about it. We don’t really take anything too seriously. That’s probably one of our biggest weapons in a way.”
The only major change the Patriots made this week heading into the matchup with the ’59ers on Saturday is spending three days practicing at on the turf field at Ball State. Kokomo’s Municipal Stadium is made entirely of field turf, so Jay County has made the trek southwest to get in some time playing on the new surface.
“Little bit faster,” JCHS coach Lea Selvey said. “The ball is going to get on you quicker. Give yourself a little more time, give yourself a little bit more range (and) trust your arms.”
Northfield and Daleville meet in the Class 1A semi-state game at 1 p.m., and Jay County will take the field shortly thereafter to chase the program’s first semi-state championship.
“Somebody is going to win, somebody is going to lose,” Selvey said. “You just hope there are no goats, just a hero.
“Just go give your best effort and if it works out, great. If it doesn’t work out that’s the way it is.”
Should the Patriots succumb to the ’59ers, Heniser and his seven senior classmates will cap their careers at a level only three teams in the history of baseball in Jay County have reached.
“Honestly (it’s) something I’ll remember for the rest of my life and I think that’s a cool thing,” he said.
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