Bellmont overpowers the Patriots (04/15/04)

PORTLAND — Neither coach was thrilled with the way their team played during stretches of Wednesday’s game.

Both softball teams had their problems at the plate, but the Bellmont Squaws made more of their scoring chances than the Jay County Patriots as they handed the home team an 11-6 defeat.

As was the pattern in Jay County’s home opener, the Patriots fell behind as they gave up three first-inning runs. But unlike that dramatic 7-6 win over Mississinewa, they never pulled even with Bellmont and didn’t put together a serious rally until the final inning.

“We were not focused,” said Jay County coach Jack Wood. “Out of all five games, we just didn’t come out ready to play. Tonight you could just see it.”

After falling behind 3-0 in the first inning Jay County’s pitching and defense bounced back. It held Bellmont — 3-0 and 15th in the voting in this week’s Class 3A state poll — scoreless for the next three frames, but also failed to convert its own opportunities.

The Patriots (1-4) scored once in the third inning as Stephanie Imel tripled to right field and came in on a one-out single by Saffron Redwine. But, with runners on first and third and no outs Chelsea DeBoy struck out to end the threat.

The strikeout problem arrived again in the sixth with Jay County trailing 8-1.

Imel again scored after a leadoff walk, and Redwine and Ashleigh Myers also reached base to give the Patriots two on with one out. But Jamie Walker, pinch-hitting for DeBoy, and Andrea Current suffered back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.

Jay County did manage to score four times in the bottom of the seventh, knocking three hits and taking advantage of a pair of Squaw errors. But, it was too little, too late.

Nicole Hakes racked up 10 strikeouts against the Patriot lineup. She went the distance for the win, allowing six runs — three earned — on nine hits and five walks.

“We’ve just got to start attacking the ball up there — being more aggressive,” said Wood, whose team will visit Muncie Southside Thursday at 4:30 p.m. “I think we were so worried about (the change-up) we were just hitting behind.”

“We didn’t quit. We did come back. We just have to find a way to channel it into the beginning of the game.”

Bellmont coach Sandy Busick wasn’t exactly thrilled with some of her team’s swings either. She said she thought it took the players some time to adjust to the pace of Myers’ pitches.

“Honestly, it shouldn’t have (been a problem) because we haven’t seen a lot of speed,” said Busick. “It’s disappointing. Like many girls, we lunge at the ball and we’re anxious to hit it.”

Still, the Squaws came alive in the final two innings, posting 11 of their 20 hits in those two frames. They sent nine batters to the plate in each of the last two innings, scoring four times in the sixth and three times in the seventh to pull away.

Hakes was the star at the plate to back up her pitching effort.

She finished 4-for-5 with five RBIs and two runs. Her biggest hit was a line shot over the fence in center field in the fifth inning, and she also had an RBI double in the seventh.

Whitney Grote and Jessie Heller each added three hits, and Amy Butcher and Alicia Hirshy had two hits and two runs apiece. Christy Hakes finished 1-for-1 with two RBIs, two runs and a trio of stolen bases.

“(Nicole Hakes) did a nice job,” said Busick. “She hit the ball well and she hit all over the field. She had solid contact every time.”

Jay County got another big day from Imel as she finished 2-for-3 with a double and a triple. She scored three times and drove in one run.

Myers was 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Katie Alberson went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Miranda Betz finished 1-for-2 with a run and two steals.

Myers took the defeat, allowing 11 runs on 20 hits in seven innings. She walked one batter and did not record a strikeout.[[In-content Ad]]