Champ homer powers Patriots (05/16/08)

FOUNTAIN CITY - With 20 outs already used up, the Patriots had not scored a single run. They made their last out count.

Trisha Champ hit a three-run, inside-the-park home run with two outs in the top of the seventh inning Thursday, lifting the Jay County High School softball team to a 3-2 victory over the Northeastern Knights (11-10).

The Patriots trailed 2-0 heading into the final frame, and Northeastern retired the first two batters to pull within a single out of the win. But with the game on the line, the No. 8 and nine hitters came through.

Lauren Edmundson, who already had a double, knocked a single to left field. Jess Piercey, who coach Jack Wood credited with several big defensive plays, followed with a line drive single to right.

Those hits set the stage for Champ. The senior catcher ripped a shot over the head of the Knights' center fielder. With the teams playing on a field that Wood estimated at about 260 feet, Champ sprinted all the way around the bases for her third home run of the season.

Champ and Edmundson each finished with two hits, and Piercey, Lindsey Wellman, Tiffany Davis and Pazia Speed added one apiece.

Jay County held its one run lead in the seventh as Amber Edmundson finished off a four-hitter. She allowed just one walk while striking out four batters in the victory.

The Patriots have won five of their last seven games to improve to 14-9, two wins short of their 2007 total. They will host Richmond Saturday before playing in the Class 4A sectional tournament at Homestead.

JCHS will meet Marion in the semifinal round Wednesday at 7 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]