Rockets drop Series opener

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — The Rockets put up a strong fight in their first World Series game. But a four-run deficit proved too much to overcome.
The Portland Rockets loaded the bases with no outs in the final frame Thursday, but lost 5-2 to Murray’s Diesel in their opening game of the National Amateur Baseball Federation World Series.
Murray’s Diesel (29-3), the winner of the New York regional, took control on a bases-clearing double with two outs in the seventh inning. Portland (30-11) loaded the bases with no one out in the ninth, but only managed one run.
Zach Tanner had two of the Rockets’ four hits, including a double, and scored on a single by Jay County High School graduate Thomas McCowan. Billy Wellman, another JCHS graduate, had the other hit.
Portland struck out 14 times against former Le Moyne University pitcher Ed Kohout.
Mitch Waters (JCHS) gave up the five runs on 11 hits and five walks in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five batters.
Tyler Reynolds and Travis Gray combined for 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Jay falls at Heritage
MONROEVILLE — The Jay County High School boys soccer team couldn’t keep the momentum from its season-opening win as it fell 5-2 Thursday to the host Heritage Patriots.
Oliver Valdes powered Heritage (1-1) throughout the game, scoring its first two goals and finishing with eight shots on goal. Aaron Horne scored to push the lead to 3-0 before Alex Dunn tallied a goal for JCHS to make it 3-1 at halftime.
Jay County (1-1) never got any closer as Horne and Carson White, on an assist from Valdes, scored for Heritage to push the advantage to 5-1 in the second half. Nathan Heitkamp found the net on an assist from Dunn for the final margin.
Alex Abbott, who scored four times for JCHS in its 7-2 win Tuesday over Muncie Central, finished with three shots on goal.
Kyle Dirksen came up with seven saves.

Ludy is No. 3 hitter
AUGUSTA, Ga. — As the season winds down, Josh Ludy continues to be one of the best hitters for the Lakewood BlueClaws.
A 1-for-3 effort in Ludy’s most recent start, a 4-2 loss Tuesday to the Augusta GreenJackets, lifted his batting average to .279. That ranks him third on the team behind Chris Duffy (.384) and Kelly Dugan (.292).
Ludy, a 2008 Jay County High School graduate, singled in the second inning against Augusta and also drew a walk in the ninth. He went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and an RBI Aug. 10 in a 4-3 loss to Kannapolis.
In 25 games for the BlueClaws, the Class A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, Ludy has 24 hits, 11 walks and 10 RBIs.

No. 5 Eagles blast JC
MUNCIE — The Class 3A No. 5 Delta Eagles proved too strong for the Jay County volleyball team Thursday as the Patriots dropped their season opener on the road, 25-4, 25-13, 25-8.
Hannah Ainsworth, the lone Patriot senior, led the team with seven digs, three assists, two service points, one ace and an 8-for-8 serving effort. Ava Kunkler came up with four digs, and Malarie Houck and Katie Aker each had three.
Emily Westgerdes, Kylie Osborne and Houck each had single kills as JCHS was limited to just three in the match.
Jay County won the opening game of the junior varsity match only to fall 20-25, 25-21, 15-13. Mallory Marshall had seven service points and five digs.[[In-content Ad]]