July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Stranding Waters (05/31/05)
JCHS baseball
Stranding Waters (05/31/05)
By By RAY COONEY-
TIPTON — Both first-round sectional games at Tipton began looking like blowouts.
The host Blue Devils didn’t come close to coming back. Jay County almost did.
The Patriots clawed back from a six-run deficit and had Casey Waters on third base as the tying run with one out in the bottom of the seventh. But, Miles Burdette struck out back-to-back batters to allow his Mississinewa Indians to hold on for a 10-9 victory.
“You just can’t strike out with one out with the runner on third and win games,” said Selvey, whose team also left runners in scoring position in the first, second and sixth innings. “You’ve got to put the ball in play.
“We had our chances. We had chances earlier with the bases loaded and we didn’t get as much in as we should have.”
Jay County (12-13) trailed by two heading into the bottom of the seventh, but freshman catcher Josh Ludy got the rally going with a one-out double to right field. Waters followed with a walk, and both runners moved up on a passed ball.
Ludy then scored when Burdette let fly with a wild pitch, and Waters advanced to third base.
Andy Hughes nearly gave the Patriots the victory as he crushed a ball over the fence, but it was about 20 feet wide of the left field foul pole. Hughes struck out on the next pitch, and Burdette then sat down Cory Locke on three consecutive swinging strikes to preserve the win.
“This was a sweet victory for this program,” said Mississinewa coach Brian Cruz. “It’s the first time in 10 years we’ve even won a sectional ball game.
“Jay County did a tremendous job battling back. (Keen) settled in and became the dominant pitcher that we knew he was going to be.”
The Indians (15-13), who split a double header against the Patriots earlier this season, did all of their damage in the first four innings. They scored three times in the first — two of the runs came on a home run by Jordan Masters — and batted around for four runs in the second for a 7-1 lead.
Cameron Branock, who finished 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs, blasted a two-run homer in the third inning, and Mississinewa had a 10-5 lead after a Scott Schuler double and a sacrifice fly from Beau Corey in the top of the fourth.
Jay County starter Chad Keen finally found his groove in the final three innings, holding the Indians scoreless and hitless while striking out five in a row during one stretch.
The Patriots scored three times in the fifth thanks to one-out hits by John Retter, Eric Somers and Ludy to pull to within 10-8. But they couldn’t bring Trent Bailey around after he opened the sixth with a single, and then they left Waters on third in the seventh.
“We just battled back. That’s kind of the way the whole season has been — get down and battle back and battle back,” said Selvey, whose team was under .500 for most of the year before winning three of its final four regular-season games. “Once Chad got his curve ball going he settled down and we held them.
“I’m proud of the kids for hanging in there and battling back. It’s tough to take.”
Tipton was even worse off the Jay County early on, falling behind 12-0 in a 16-6 loss to the defending champion Blackford Bruins in the first sectional contest Monday. Mississinewa and Blackford will meet in semifinal action today at 5 p.m.
The Indians, who got two hits, three RBIs and a stolen base from Corey, head into that semifinal contest having won nine of their last 12 games. Scott Schuler added a double and three runs against Jay County, Drew Hosier scored twice, and Justin Branock drove in two runs.
Dustin McHenry got the win as he tossed 4 1/3 innings. Burdette allowed just one unearned run on two hits while striking out five in the final 2 2/3.
“We’re playing our best ball right now,” said Cruz. “We’re believing in ourselves and we’re believing in each other.
“Keen throws the ball excellent, we just jumped on him early.”
Keen, who tossed back-to-back no-hitters earlier in the season, gave up 10 runs — nine earned — on 10 hits. He struck out 11 and walked one.
Somers went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a run and an RBI for the Patriots, and Ludy was 2-for-4 with a double a run and two RBIs.[[In-content Ad]]
The host Blue Devils didn’t come close to coming back. Jay County almost did.
The Patriots clawed back from a six-run deficit and had Casey Waters on third base as the tying run with one out in the bottom of the seventh. But, Miles Burdette struck out back-to-back batters to allow his Mississinewa Indians to hold on for a 10-9 victory.
“You just can’t strike out with one out with the runner on third and win games,” said Selvey, whose team also left runners in scoring position in the first, second and sixth innings. “You’ve got to put the ball in play.
“We had our chances. We had chances earlier with the bases loaded and we didn’t get as much in as we should have.”
Jay County (12-13) trailed by two heading into the bottom of the seventh, but freshman catcher Josh Ludy got the rally going with a one-out double to right field. Waters followed with a walk, and both runners moved up on a passed ball.
Ludy then scored when Burdette let fly with a wild pitch, and Waters advanced to third base.
Andy Hughes nearly gave the Patriots the victory as he crushed a ball over the fence, but it was about 20 feet wide of the left field foul pole. Hughes struck out on the next pitch, and Burdette then sat down Cory Locke on three consecutive swinging strikes to preserve the win.
“This was a sweet victory for this program,” said Mississinewa coach Brian Cruz. “It’s the first time in 10 years we’ve even won a sectional ball game.
“Jay County did a tremendous job battling back. (Keen) settled in and became the dominant pitcher that we knew he was going to be.”
The Indians (15-13), who split a double header against the Patriots earlier this season, did all of their damage in the first four innings. They scored three times in the first — two of the runs came on a home run by Jordan Masters — and batted around for four runs in the second for a 7-1 lead.
Cameron Branock, who finished 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs, blasted a two-run homer in the third inning, and Mississinewa had a 10-5 lead after a Scott Schuler double and a sacrifice fly from Beau Corey in the top of the fourth.
Jay County starter Chad Keen finally found his groove in the final three innings, holding the Indians scoreless and hitless while striking out five in a row during one stretch.
The Patriots scored three times in the fifth thanks to one-out hits by John Retter, Eric Somers and Ludy to pull to within 10-8. But they couldn’t bring Trent Bailey around after he opened the sixth with a single, and then they left Waters on third in the seventh.
“We just battled back. That’s kind of the way the whole season has been — get down and battle back and battle back,” said Selvey, whose team was under .500 for most of the year before winning three of its final four regular-season games. “Once Chad got his curve ball going he settled down and we held them.
“I’m proud of the kids for hanging in there and battling back. It’s tough to take.”
Tipton was even worse off the Jay County early on, falling behind 12-0 in a 16-6 loss to the defending champion Blackford Bruins in the first sectional contest Monday. Mississinewa and Blackford will meet in semifinal action today at 5 p.m.
The Indians, who got two hits, three RBIs and a stolen base from Corey, head into that semifinal contest having won nine of their last 12 games. Scott Schuler added a double and three runs against Jay County, Drew Hosier scored twice, and Justin Branock drove in two runs.
Dustin McHenry got the win as he tossed 4 1/3 innings. Burdette allowed just one unearned run on two hits while striking out five in the final 2 2/3.
“We’re playing our best ball right now,” said Cruz. “We’re believing in ourselves and we’re believing in each other.
“Keen throws the ball excellent, we just jumped on him early.”
Keen, who tossed back-to-back no-hitters earlier in the season, gave up 10 runs — nine earned — on 10 hits. He struck out 11 and walked one.
Somers went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a run and an RBI for the Patriots, and Ludy was 2-for-4 with a double a run and two RBIs.[[In-content Ad]]
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD