Jay blasts No. 1 WHS (04/10/08)

SELMA - The Wapahani Raiders took over the No. 1 ranking in Class 2A when this week's poll was released Tuesday. The Patriots did not allow them to enjoy their reign for very long.

Jay County High School's baseball team destroyed the top-ranked team in the state Wednesday, blasting three more home runs in a 13-2, six-inning slaughter.

It was the first loss of the year for Wapahani, which was one of just five teams to defeat JCHS in the 2007 regular season.

Junior Billy Wellman hit the biggest of those home runs, a grand slam that keyed the Patriots' 10-run outburst in the fifth and sixth innings. Michael Jobe added his fourth long ball of the year, and Phil Powell hit his third to give the team 11 home runs in four games.

JCHS (4-0) trailed only briefly, falling behind 2-1 after the first inning. But it grabbed the lead with two runs in the third inning and pulled away to finish the game an inning early.

In addition to his home run, Jobe smacked two doubles, finishing with three runs and two RBIs.

Thomas McCowan, who set the school record for doubles in a season last year, bashed three doubles and drove in a pair of runs.

Wellman had a double to go along with his grand slam and also scored twice, and Josh Ludy scored two runs.

Jobe also picked up his third win of the year, shutting the Raiders (6-1) down after they touched him for two runs in the first inning. He gave up five hits and three walks while striking out six.

Through four games, he has a 0.78 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 18 innings. He tied the school record for wins a year ago with 12.[[In-content Ad]]