Great day for Jay, Shae (04/30/07)

A no-hit shutout. A one-hit shutout.

Twenty-five hits. Thirty-one runs.

And all of that in just 11 innings. Not a bad day's work.

The Jay County softball team pushed its winning streak to six games Saturday with victories of 10-0 in six innings and 21-0 in five innings over the visiting Winchester Golden Falcons.

The first of those two wins was led by senior Shae Keller's first career no-hitter.

"Shae pitched well," said JCHS coach Jack Wood. "It was a good confidence builder for her to get something like that. We're pretty pumped up ..."

The closest Winchester came to a hit against Keller was in the sixth inning.

With one out, Keshia Reynolds was on first base by way of a walk. Xia Xianna Baker blooped a ball just over second baseman Lindsey Wellman and into center field, easily reaching first base safely.

But center fielder Kaelee Keller, a sophomore, saved the no-hitter for her senior sister. While Reynolds had to hold up to make sure the ball was not caught, Keller charged in, fielded it and threw to shortstop Amber Edmundson at second base. The throw beat Reynolds for the force out, and by rule the play is scored a fielder's choice.

Shae Keller got the next batter, Chelsea Foudray, to hit a ground ball to Edmundson, who flipped to Wellman at second complete the no-hitter.

Edmudson, a junior, looked as if she might make it a no-hit double header as she carried a no-hitter through the first three innings of game two. But, sophomore Danielle Green opened the fourth inning with a single to right-center field to break up the bid.

Wood took the blame for Winchester's only hit of the day.

"I probably shouldn't have said anything," he said. "Me and the umps were talking about that right before that batter came up to the plate and was the first one to get a base hit. That one's my fault.

"Amber is consistently throwing strikes. When she comes in and keeps the ball low and moves it around ... she pitches well."

The pair of Jay County victories and six straight wins overall pushed the team's record to 8-3. The Patriots' 13-13 mark last year was the first time the team had reached double-digit wins since 2001.

"Overall, we've played real well ... It's a lot better feeling this year than being on the other end," said Wood, whose team looks primed for its first winning season this century. "It's nice to be in a situation where we're playing well. Right now it seems like we can play with anyone."

In addition to her one-hit effort on the mound, Edmundson continued to swing a brutal bat.

She opened her day with a leadoff double in the second inning, and whacked a triple in the first inning of game two.

It was just a matter of time before she went deep with her second home run of the season, a three-run shot in the Patriots' 10-run fourth inning.

Edmundson finished game two 2-for-3 with two runs and four RBIs, and also scored after her double in game one.

"When she keeps that swing that short and compact and keeps that stride short, she just kills the ball," said Wood. "That one line drive she hit to left-center today was just a shot."

Brittany Mann also had a mammoth game as she took the top spot in the order in game two. She ripped three hits, including a double and a triple, and reached base in each of her five plate appearances. She scored all five times, and had three RBIs and a stolen base.

Trisha Champ and Shae Keller each added two hits, two runs, two RBIs and two stolen bases in game two, and Kim Norris had two hits and scored three times.

"Brittany Mann hit the ball well in the second game," said Wood. "Kim had a nice performance hitting the ball. I just thought today was a great team effort. That's what these girls are made of."

Champ led the offense in the opening game, going 2-for-2 with two runs, two steals and an RBI. Kaelee Keller singled, stole three bases and scored three times, and Amanda Alberson had a double, a run and an RBI.[[In-content Ad]]