Split finishes Jay regular season at 13-12 (05/20/06)

The Patriots weren’t about to let the guarantee of a .500 season slip away.

Jay County’s softball team lost the continuation of a game started Wednesday against the Adams Central Jets 4-1 Friday evening. But it bounced back in a second game, defeating AC 6-4 to ensure they will finish with at least as many wins as losses this year.

Chelsea DeBoy’s double off the top of the fence in left-center field to open the second inning helped stake the Patriots (13-12) to a game-two lead they would never give up. Fellow senior Miranda Betz drove her in with a single.

Jay County added another run when Shae Keller started the third inning with a double before scoring on an Amber Champ single. Betz drove in two more runs during a four-run fifth inning.

Betz had a perfect second game, going 2-for-2 and driving in half of the Patriot runs. DeBoy and Trisha Champ each had two hits, a run and an RBI, and Keller and Amber Champ added one hit and one run apiece.

Shae Keller also guaranteed herself at least a .500 season as she improved to 10-9 with the win. She gave up four runs — two earned — on six hits. She walked two and struck out two.

Adams Central (13-9) trailed 1-0 in the first game, which was continued after being halted by rain Wednesday. But the Jets scored twice in the fifth inning and twice in the seventh.

Keller took the loss in that game, allowing four runs — three earned — on seven hits. She struck out eight batters.

Amber Champ had a hit and scored the lone Patriot run. Keller and Trisha Champ added one hit apiece.

Jay County opens sectional play Monday against the Delta Eagles at Tipton at 5 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]