Homan homer powers Patriots (05/09/03)

PORTLAND — One hit doesn’t usually account for much of an inning. That wasn’t the case for the Jay County baseball team Thursday.

An Adam Homan grand slam was the only hit in a six-run second inning for the Patriots as they stomped the Adams Central Jets in six innings, 11-1.

Leading 1-0, Adams Central starting pitcher Jared Butcher got Chris Myers to fly out to second base to start the second inning. Then came the disaster.

Trent Bailey reached base when third baseman Matthew Houk misplayed a routine ground ball. Chad Keen and Chance Retter earned back-to-back walks to load the bases, and Erich Zielinski got the game-tying RBI when he was hit by a pitch.

Butcher donated another run to Jay County by walking Heath Williams. He then struck out Cameron Hummel to give himself a chance to escape the inning with no further damage, but Adam Homan would not allow it.

He smashed a home run over the fence in left field, clearing the bases and giving the Patriots a 6-1 lead. It was the lone hit in the inning when they scored six runs, five of which were unearned.

And, it was just part of another great offensive day for Homan.

He had already smashed a double in the first inning, and followed with a two-run double in the fourth. He added an infield single in the sixth inning to finish 4-for-4 with two doubles, a grand slam, one run and six RBIs.

“We maximized (the inning),” said Jay County coach Lea Selvey. “The one hit was a big one.”

“Adam had a great day,” he added of Homan, who also had a 4-for-4 day with three home runs and six RBIs against Fort Recovery this season. “It’s kind of hard for him to top what he did earlier in the year, but that’s great.”

“He was struggling early,” said Homan of Butcher. “Then he had to throw them right down the middle. I was looking for a fastball early (in my at bat).”

Homan’s double in the fourth inning put the Patriots up 8-1, and they finished off the game an inning early with three runs in the sixth.

Mike Smith — in at second base of Zielinski — drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored when Heath Williams singled to right-center field.

Williams was thrown out of the game moments later when he bowled over first-baseman Lucas Everett on the second of two pick-off tries. It was the second such confrontation between the two players during the game.

Williams will now have to sit out the Patriots’ next contest.

In a reversal of roles, Josh Jellison entered to pinch-run for Williams, and advanced to third base on a Cameron Hummel double to center. Jellison scored on a wild pitch, and Hummel would finish the game as he crossed the plate on a ground out from Nick Timmerman for the 11-1 win.

Williams, Hummel, Bailey and Zielinski all trailed Homan with one hit apiece. Williams had a pair of RBIs, and Zielinski and Retter each scored twice.

Trent Bailey earned his second win of the year s he tossed all six innings. He gave up one run on three hits while walking four and striking out two.

Travis Foster had a hit and an RBI for the Jets, and Troy Hirshy had a double for the team’s only extra-base hit.

“Bailey pitched a nice game tonight,” said Selvey. “He got some defense.”

The victory pushed the Class 3A seventh-ranked Patriots to 15-1 on the year. They will host a double-header against Anderson Highland Saturday at 11 a.m., and two victories over the Scots would clinch a share of the Olympic Athletic Conference title for the first time since 1994.

“We’re a great team,” said Homan. “We all work together. Everyone knows what they ahve to do, and everyone does it. We’ve had great chemistry since junior high.”[[In-content Ad]]