Smith follows Shatto with another great start (04/29/04)

OK, so he didn’t set a record. But Mike Smith did give the Jay County baseball team a second straight outstanding pitching performance Wednesday.

One night after Josh Shatto set a school record with 20 strikeouts, Smith sat down 11 batters and allowed just one earned run as the Patriots defeated the host Sout Adams Starfires 5-3.

The teams were tied at 1-1 with two innings to play, and they each scored twice in the sixth.

But, Jay County (5-6) posted a pair of runs in the seventh and Smith held the Starfires scoreless in the bottom of the inning for the victory.

Smith (3-1) went the distance, nearly doubling his strikeout total for the season against South Adams. He had 12 in four previous appearances. His three runs — one earned — came on four hits. He did not issue a walk.

Chad Keen went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs and three stolen bases, and Heath Williams was 2-for-3 with four stolen bases and a run. Nathan Miller also went 2-for-3 and scored once.

Trent Bailey singled, stole a pair of bases and scored a run.

Tyler Sprunger suffered the loss for the Starfires (7-8), allowing two runs — one earned — on one hit in one inning of relief.

Aaron Givens started and allowed one run on four hits in four innings. He struck out five. Justin Caffee gave up two runs on three hits in two innings.

Doug Roop, Craig Neuenschwander and Kyle Neuenschwander each had a pair of hits. Roop had a run and an RBI, Craig Neuenschwander drove in a run and Kyle Neuenschwander scored a run.

Jay County will put its two-game winning streak on the line at home Saturday in a double-header against Muncie Southside at 11 a.m. South Adams will look to return to the win column when it visits Bluffton today at 4:30 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]