Spartans, Patriots split double-header (04/19/04)

PORTLAND — Adam Brandt’s numbers provide a fairly accurate reflection of Jay County’s games Saturday.

Brandt was 3-for-3 with a double, a triple, three RBIs and two runs in the 9-5, game-one win over the Connersville Spartans. He went 0-for-3 with a trio of strikeouts in a 5-3 Patriot loss in the second game.

“I think when we get two or three other guys picking it up we can score more,” said Jay County coach Lea Selvey, whose team managed just four hits in the second game after 10 in the first. “I thought we played tight the inning that we gave up all those runs.”

That tight inning was the third of the second game. The Patriots entered the bottom of the third with a 3-1 lead, but it all slipped away.

Connersville (4-5) scored four times in the bottom of the third, capitalizing on a hit batsman, an error, a walk and a wild pitch.

Jay County (3-3) left three runners in scoring position during the final four innings — Heath Williams twice — and was never able to get the big hits which came regularly in the first contest.

Starter Chad Keen took the loss in game two, allowing five runs — two earned — on four hits in five innings. He struck out three and walked two.

Left-handed Kyle Miller got the win for Connersville as he allowed three unearned runs on four hits. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter.

Devon Welter knocked a pair of hits against Keen and drove in two runs. Joe Gesell scored twice.

Keen tried to help his cause, finishing with a hit, a run and an RBI. Williams had a double and a pair of stolen bases.

Trent Bailey ripped an RBI double, and Eric Sommers had the only other hit for the Patriots.

“We had opportunities in the second game and just didn’t capitalize,” said Selvey. “(Miller) was a pretty nice pitcher.”

The difference in the first game was just one more big inning. Jay County scored all of its runs in the third inning of game two, but added a powerful fifth to go along with its third-inning outburst in game one.

Leading just 5-4 heading to the bottom of the fifth Mike Smith and Josh Shatto each reached base on one-out errors by Gesell at shortstop. Mike Alberson singled and Sommers reached first on a fielder’s choice to set the stage for Brandt.

The senior ripped a triple over Josh Jarboe’s head in right field, plating three runs. Brandt would come in to score on a passed ball for the final margin.

“Brandt came through and did an outstanding job in the first game,” said Selvey, noting that after a 14-1 loss at Wapahani Wednesday Brandt was one of several players to put in some extra time in the batting cage. “When you do those things there’s a payback. It pays dividends.”

Brandt’s double came in the fourth inning, and he also led off the five-run third inning with an infield single.

In the third Nathan Miller followed with a walked, and Chad Keen loaded the bases with a one-out infield single. Trent Bailey recorded an RBI walk before Mike Smith came up with the big hit.

Smith cleared the bases with a double, taking a two-strike pitch to the gap in right-center field. Alberson drove in Smith with a two-out single.

Smith, who also had a stolen base, got the game-one win to improve to 2-0. He allowed five runs on nine hits in seven innings.

He walked one and struck out four.

“He showed a little senior leadership there I thought,” said Selvey of Smith, who was laboring a bit in the final two innings but still did not allow a run. “He fought through it and got the job done.”

Alberson finished the first game 2-for-3 with a run, an RBI and stolen base. Keen was 2-for-4 with a double and a run.

Connersville got a pair of hits and two RBIs from Conner Gable. Gesell doubled, scored a run and had an RBI.

Shane Tipton had a single, two RBIs and a run, and Welter singled and scored twice.

Welter took the game-one defeated, allowing nine runs — five earned — on eight hits in five innings. He struck out eight and walked two.

Jay County will host defending Class 3A state champion Norwell Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]