Miscues costly in loss

MONROE — At times, the ball seemed to find leather for the Jets on defense.
On the other hand, the Patriots had a tough time keeping the ball in their gloves.
The Jay County High School baseball team allowed four unearned runs and left runners on base in crucial situations Thursday in a 5-3 loss to the Adams Central Jets.
“I’m more upset we didn’t keep our composure at times,” said JCHS coach Lea Selvey, whose team falls to 6-4 on the season and 1-1 in Allen County Athletic Conference play. “Bottom line, (the game) came down to (the Jets putting) the ball in play.”
Adams Central coach Dave Neuenschwander said it was a good victory, considering JCHS junior Jake Myers was on the bump for the Patriots after no-hitting Woodlan in a 4-0 win April 22.
“It is a big win for us especially who we were facing on the mound,” Neuenschwander said. The Jets move to 3-0 in conference and 10-3 overall. “He throws the ball really well. Probably one of the fastest pitchers we have faced up to this point.
“We put the ball in play and unfortunately for them they did throw the ball away a bit at times.”
The first such occurrence was in the second inning, during which a fielding error allowed Brett Funk to score the game’s first run.
Adams Central gifted a run back to Jay County in the top of the third, when a dropped third strike scored Andy Kohler from third base for a 1-1 tie. But just as quickly as the Patriots responded, the Jets went back on top in the bottom half of the frame.
Hunter Bates reached on an error to lead off the frame, then swiped second base to get in scoring position. He attempted to steal third, and JCHS catcher Jacob Geesaman had his pickoff throw tip off Max Moser’s glove at third base, letting Bates trot home for the go-ahead run.
The home team added another run — the only one it earned — during the fourth inning when Myers left a 3-1 pitch too high over the zone and Chase Stahl hit a two-out, solo home run to left field. Jay County could have tied the game at 2-2 but Peyton Heniser struck out with two runners in scoring position to end any chance.
The 3-1 Jet advantage stood until the sixth inning, during which JCHS sophomore Ethan Myers hit a one-out double to right field and came around to score on back-to-back wild pitches from ACHS starter Luke Bittner.
Moser drew a walk to chase Bittner from the game, and pinch hitter Mitchel Frasher also walked to load the bases.
Kohler, who had walked and lined out to the left fielder in his previous two plate appearances, hit a rope to the gap in left center that Adams Central centerfielder Bailey Coyne tracked down for the final out of the inning.
“It is just baseball,” Selvey said. “We get bases loaded and a shot, and the kid runs it down.”
“That was a big play there,” Neuenschwander said. “Fortunately with the wind (it was blowing in from right field) it kind of held it up there. He got a great angle.”
Neuenschwander echoed Selvey’s statement, that it is “just baseball,” adding that sometimes bloopers fall in for one team but never find open spots for the other.
During the bottom of the sixth inning, with the Jets ahead 3-2, Bates ripped the first pitch of his at bat down the right field line that fell fair by less than a foot for a two-out double, scoring two unearned runs.
In addition to Myers’ double, Jay County also got singles from Chandler Jacks, Wyatt Geesaman and Moser. Ryan Schlechty drew three of the Patriots’ six walks.
Jake Myers (1-2) went the distance, scattering five hits over six innings while striking out nine and walking three. Adams Central worked him early, loading the count each of the first three batters and on four occasions the first time through the lineup.
“I’m proud of him,” said Selvey, whose team hosts Muncie Central for a doubleheader at 11 a.m. Saturday. “He battled. He just has to keep his composure. I love him on the mound. He is going to battle and not give in. That is what I really like about him.”