Patriots' rally falls short

The Patriots found some offense late, but it wasn't quite enough.

Jay County High School's softball team scored its only run in the bottom of the seventh inning Tuesday and had the bases loaded, but could not come up with a second run in a 2-1 loss to the visiting Southern Wells Raiders.

Freshman Lexie Gierhart had a double and a stolen base, and scored the Patriots' only run. Abbey Vance, also a freshman, went 2-for-3 with a double, and Danielle Wellman had the only other hit for JCHS.

Rachelle Jackson took the loss, giving up two runs - one earned - on seven hits and two walks. She struck out seven batters, all in the first three innings.

Jay County stands at 0-4 heading into today's game at home against Bellmont.

Netters lose first

MARION - A quick start to the season came to a halt Tuesday for the girls tennis team in a 5-0 loss to the Marion Giants.

Ashley Caupp and Danielle Chenoweth turned in the closest match of the night at No. 2 doubles against Bri McCarty and Sara Lyons. They were up 4-3, 5-4 and 6-5 before the Giants forced a tiebreaker and took control the rest of the way to hand Caupp and Chenoweth a 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 defeat.

Jay County (3-1), which opened the season with wins over Blackford, Bellmont and Richmond, won just a total of seven games in the other four matches. Marion has won eight straight sectional titles.

At No. 2 singles, Mariah Clark dropped a 6-2, 6-1 decision to Veronica Sandoval, and at No. 1 singles Kayla Martin fell 6-2, 6-1 against Kristen Futrell. No. 3 singles player Alyssa Rigby and the No. 1 doubles pair of Becky Muhlenkamp and Emily Huntsman each suffered their first loss of the year, falling 6-1, 6-0 to Ellen Hornett 6-0, 6-1 to Alex Davis and Nithia Chowattukunnel respectively.

The JCHS junior varsity team lost 6-5, getting points from Joni Degler and the doubles teams of Chelsea Kimmel and Jessica Ooten, Alicia Degler and Dezi Clay, Melinda Penrod and Kyla McKibben and Mackenzie McIntire and Miranda Reinhart.

JV baseball falls

Jay County's junior varsity baseball team fell behind 7-0 in the first three innings Tuesday on the way to a 14-2 loss to the visiting South Adams Starfires.

Phil Anderson took the loss for the Patriots (0-2), who also gave up seven runs in the top of the sixth inning.

Brandon Ferner had the only JCHS hit, a double, and scored a run. Shawn Homan also scored a run in the defeat.

WJMS girls dominate

DUNKIRK - The West Jay Middle School girls track team dominated the field events and the sprints Tuesday in an 80-17 victory over visiting Hartford City. The boys team lost, 54-38.

Miranda Gerber finished first in the 100 dash with a time of 13.8 seconds, and she took the top spot in the 200 dash in 30.2. Ciera Barcus cleared the bar at 4 feet, 5 inches to win the high jump, and added a leap of 13 feet, 1 inch to win the long jump. In the throwing events, Tyra Westlake posted distances of 24 feet, 7 inches and 67 feet, 8 inches to take the shot put and discus respectively.

Brea Burcham completed the sprint dominance with a time of 1 minute, 12.3 seconds to win the 400 dash, and Cierra Nichols was first in the hurdles in 19.31.

The only two individual wins for the West Jay boys came in the throwing events, with Andrew Eley first in the shot put and Cody Brewster winning the discus.[[In-content Ad]]