Jay softball takes two from Devils (05/19/08)

There was a week when the Patriots seemed to be going backward.

But since being shut out in back-to-back games by Bluffton and Anderson Highland, they have turned their season back in the right direction.

The Jay County High School softball team's double-header sweep Saturday of the Richmond Red Devils - 12-3 and 9-5 - gives wins in seven of the last nine games, including four in a row.

"We're playing pretty good ball right now," said JCHS coach Jack Wood, whose team is now 16-9. "Last year we kind of peaked real early. We went through a spell this year where we weren't playing so well. But some of the little things we weren't doing we're starting to do now. We've had some good hitting games here lately. We're coming round."

Pazia Speed, a sophomore, keyed the game-one victory, blasting home runs in each of her first two at bats. Trisha Champ and Tiffany Davis opened the game with back-to-back singles, and Speed followed with a three-run home to left field.

In the second inning Davis knocked a two-out single, and Speed smashed her second home run over the fence in center field. She finished 2-for-2 with two runs, two stolen bases and five RBIs.

Speed's home run keyed a four-run first inning, and the Patriots scored twice in the second and third before adding another four-run frome in the fifth. Jess Piercey hit a two-out triple to drive in the second run of the frame, and then Champ showed her wheels.

The senior smacked the ball to the fence in right-center field and was headed for an easy triple. But even though shortstop Jerrica Krupa was receiving the throw from the outfield as Champ reached third base, Wood waved her around. The ball beat her to the plate, but catcher Mariah Abner wasn't able to get the tag on in time.

"Pazia finally threw her hands through and got around on the ball and really just drove it," said Wood.

"We've hit 15 home runs now by five or six different girls. She really came through today."

The inside-the-park home run was Champ's second in as many games. She hit a two-out, three-run inside-the-park homer Thursday in the top of the seventh inning to lead JCHS to a 3-2 win over Northeastern.

"Trisha's speed is a big facet she brings to the game," said Wood.

The home runs weren't flying in game two, but the Patriots were still in control.

Richmond took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second inning, but the Patriots immediately responded with five runs in the bottom of the frame. Brittany Mann, Piercey, Amber Edmundson and Kayla Phillips each had hits in the inning as Jay County took advantage of an error and several wild pitches.

The Patriots put the game away in the fifth inning when Kayla Phillips led off with a bunt single.

After an infield single by Brittany Watson, Mann and Piercey tacked on back-to-back RBI singles. Champ added a sacrifice fly to score Mann for a 9-2 lead, and the Red Devils scored three times in the seventh inning for the final margin.

Amber Edmundson won the opening game as just one of the three runs against her was earned. She gave up eight hits and five walks while striking out three.

Watson tossed the second game, also giving up just one earned run. He gave up five hits while walking five and striking out four.

"Brittany hadn't pitched here lately," said Wood. "I really wanted to get her some innings today. I didn't plan on throwing her that many innings, but she was throwing pretty well so we let her finish."

It was the final home game for seniors Champ (three hits, four runs, three RBIs, two steals on the day), twins Amber (two hits, one run one RBI) and Lauren Edmundson (one hit two runs), and Candace Betz (one hit, two RBIs.

"We have a great senior group, great leadership," said Wood. "Trisha's been the starting catcher for four years for us. ... They're just great young ladies. I think they've got very bright futures ahead of them ... They've been just a great assett to us."

The 16 wins thus far match the team's total from last year, which was the most in the last decade. They will try for No. 17 Wednesday when they play Marion in the semifinal round of the Homestead sectional at 7 p.m.

"Each year we've tried to win at least more than what we did the previous year. I believe every year we've won at least one more. Wednesday's game is not only big because it's sectional play, but it would give us 17 wins ... We don't want to stop there, we want to go on."

"We've got to play well now Wednesday night and see what happens."

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