Dunn and done (04/07/08)

If he was still feeling the effects of any jet lag, Trey Dunn didn't show it.

After missing the Jay County High School baseball team's season opener Wednesday because he was on a school trip to Germany, Dunn delivered the game-winning single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning Saturday afternoon. His hit to left field scored Thomas McCowan from second base as the Patriots rallied for a 3-2 victory over the visiting Mississinewa Indians.

"Trey's a pretty good hitter," said Selvey of the junior right fielder. "I would say just after him spending all that time in Germany and coming off a big, long flight back, I didn't really expect him to have his baseball legs under him yet. But he battled in there and battled and battled. That's where some of his experience pays off."

The Patriots (2-0) trailed after giving up two unearned runs in the top of the third inning, but tied the score on a Phil Powell solo home run in the sixth. That set the stage for Dunn's heroics.

Wes Mills couldn't handle Michael Jobe's ground ball to lead off the inning, allowing him to reach first safely. After a Josh Ludy strikeout, Thomas McCowan grounded into a fielder's choice to put himself at first with two outs.

McCowan stole second, and looked ready to score the game-winning run only to have Dunn's line drive down the right field line slice a foot or two foul. But Dunn kept fighting and slapped a single to left field, bringing his senior teammate to the plate to win the game.

It was Dunn's first hit of the season after an 0-for-3 start in which he had not gotten the ball out of the infield.

"We kept knocking on the door all day long," said Selvey, whose team left runners in scoring position in five of the first six innings.

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"But we just couldn't get that big hit until we finally got the one that won the game for us."

Before scoring the game-winner, McCowan drove in the Patriots' first run in the fifth inning. Luke Goetz led off the frame with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a single by Jobe. McCowan brought Goetz home with a ground out to shortstop.

With JCHS still trailing 2-1, Powell, the designated hitter, came to the plate with one out in the bottom of the sixth. He ripped the ball over the fence just to the left of the scoreboard in left field - his second home run in as many games - to tie the score.

The offense was just enough for Jobe, who improved to 2-0.

"Jobe is probably one of the top three pitchers we'll see all year," said Mississinewa coach Brian Cruz. "And it just so happens it has to be the first game of the year right out of the gate. You take your hat off to him. He came ready to compete."

Jobe gave up just three hits, and the only two runs against him were unearned. He recorded each of the final nine outs himself - eight strikeouts and a comebacker up the middle - and finished with 12 Ks in all.

"That helps. That definitely helps," said Selvey of the starter who has not given up an earned run in 12 innings. "He said in the dugout he wasn't nervous or anything. He knew we were going to win.

"I was starting to get a little nervous, but I had faith. With an older group of kids like this I have faith that they're going to stay in and realize that they still have got at bats and still get the job done. A younger group of kids might panic a little bit.

"Michael pitched a whale of a ballgame."

Mississinewa got its two runs after Garrett Cunningham reached base on an error to open the third inning. A walk by Fleming put two runners on, and James Rinker's RBI double brought home the first run. Brandt Eastes added a sacrifice fly for the 2-0 lead.

Fleming took the loss, giving up the unearned run in 1 1/3 innings. Kyle Zabst tossed the first 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out six.

Cruz said he was happy with the way his pitchers attacked the Patriot lineup, which set school records by scoring 8.8 runs per game last season and posting a .387 batting average.

"We had a game plan coming in and they executed it," said Cruz. "We had a couple downfalls - working behind in the count - and it gave them two runs. That's the biggest thing that we harp on is 'work ahead.' And when we worked ahead, we owned what we wanted to do.

"What we talk about is we don't want to lose a ballgame ... with our mistakes. Today we came over here, we're playing a great ball club ... and we were ready to play. We stepped on the field and we were up 2-0 late in the ballgame.

"We got beat by a good team. We didn't lose. We got beat.

"I'm thrilled to death with this young group of guys."

Junior varsity

The Patriots blew open the game with a 12-run third inning, finishing off Mississinewa 13-3 in five frames.

Andrew Lancaster powered the offense for Jay County (1-0), finishing 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Nathaniel Brown had two runs and three stolen bases, Mike Masters finished with two hits and two runs and Eric Homan scored twice.

Homan also picked up the win, allowing just two hits and a walk in three scoreless innings. He struck out four batters.[[In-content Ad]]