Jay edges 2007 champs (04/16/08)

Being at home has proved a challenge for the Patriots. But they came through again at Don E. Selvey Field Tuesday night.

Jay County High School's baseball team has won its three road games by a combined score of 37-6 while each of their home games have come down to their final out of the seventh inning. The squad came through again as senior Luke Goetz scored the game-winning run on an infield single by classmate Michael Jobe as the Patriots defeated the 2007 Class 3A state champion Norwell Knights.

They scored despite being down to their last strike with a runner on first base in the seventh inning after failing to score with the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth.

"In the sixth inning we were in dire straights, and they making running mistake and we get out of that one," said Norwell coach Kelby Weybright. "And then in the seventh inning we just didn't cover the bag at second, and that's about the third time this year we haven't been there. We have a junior and a senior out there, but we just can't seem to get to the bag."

The play at second, or lack thereof, was the key to the Patriots' run.

Norwell had sat down the first two batters of the seventh inning, but Goetz reached first base on a single to right field. And then with two strikes on Michael Jobe, Selvey decided to gamble by sending Goetz on an attempt to steal second.

Not only was Goetz successful in taking the bag, but the throw skipped into center field to allow him to take third as well. That set the stage for Jobe, who smacked a hard ground ball toward the gap between the first and second basemen. The Knights managed to knock down the ball, but couldn't recover in time to get a throw off to first base as Jobe reached safely allowing Goetz to score the game-winning run.

"We were down to the point where with two strikes on Jobe I thought they may not be expecting it," said JCHS coach Lea Selvey, whose team stayed perfect at 5-0. "We hadn't stole anything at all, or made an effort all day. I thought, well, let's go ahead and send him, and if he gets thrown out then Jobe is leading off the next inning. And if he makes it and Jobe gets a hit, we're going to score.

"The overthrow getting through and him getting to third is huge, because he made a pretty good play. He knocked it down, and if it had been a runner at second we would be first-and-third with Ludy up."

Jay County got on the board in the first inning, when Jobe walked and Thomas McCowan delivered a two-out, RBI double to right-center field. The Knights claimed the lead in the fourth thanks to a two-run home run by Ryne Otis, but their advantage didn't last long.

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Trey Dunn hit his first career-homer.

"It was a good time for his first one," said Selvey. "I think everybody in this lineup has the ability to hit one out."

Dunn was the hero of the Patriots' only other home game when he hit a two-out single to right field to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning in a 3-2 victory over Missisinewa.

In addition to his two hits, including the game winner, Jobe was outstanding on the mound again. He gave up just two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out eight.

"Jobe did a great job on the mound for them," said Weybright. "He kept us guessing most of the night. At times he showed some wildness, but when he needed to come back with big pitches he got them. He threw the curve ball real well in spots."

Jobe, who tied the single-season record for wins a year ago with 12, is already 4-0 in 2008. He has 32 strikeouts in 25 innings of work, and has posted a 1.12 ERA.

"We don't give out many game balls, but he got one," said Selvey. "He got the game winning hit, and did a heck of a job pitching."

Junior varsity

WINCHESTER - Each of Mike Masters' three hits went for extra bases, and Ben Walter and Skylar Petty combined for a one-hitter in Jay County's 11-0, six-inning victory over the Winchester Golden Falcons.

Masters went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a triple and a run to lead the Patriots (2-0), who scored twice in the first, third and fifth innings before exploding for six runs in the sixth. Eric Homan was also 3-for-3, adding three runs and three RBIs, John Pettus had two doubles, and Ben Vance scored twice.

Walter, making his first pitching appearance, turned in five hitless innings while walking three and striking out nine. Petty gave up one hit and struck out two in one inning.

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