Patriot golfers beat Starfires

GENEVA — The Patriots continued their dominance over conference opponents.
The Jay County High School boys golf team had all five of its players shoot 44 or better Thursday, defeating the South Adams Starfires 168-202 at Golf Club of the Limberlost.
Jay County junior Jay Houck made par five times on his way to match medalist honors. He finished with a 5-over par 40.
Graham Haines had one birdie — on the 115-yard, par-3 12th hole — and made par twice for a 42. Both Kyler Hudson and Collin Haines had a 43 to complete the Patriots’ team score.
Nick Hayden also competed and he finished with a 44, including making par on three of his final four holes.
Jacob Rife led the Starfires with a 44, and David Muselman was second on the team with a 49.
Dexter Miller and Zach Colpaert shot a 50 and 59 respectively as the No. 3 and No. 4 scores.
Nathan Bollenbacher (63), Chris Beitler (67) and Ethan Blomeke (69) also played for South Adams.

JC falls in final frame
MONROEVILLE — Jay County’s softball team lost in walk-off fashion on Thursday, 5-4 to the Heritage Patriots.
Jay County (6-13, 2-4 Allen County Athletic Conference) was ahead 2-0 after the first inning, and the lead stood until the third, during which the host Patriots scored three times for a 3-2 advantage. Heritage doubled its lead with a run in the fourth inning, until Jay County scored twice in the fifth to tie the score.
Then, in the bottom of the seventh, Heritage pushed across the game-winning run.
Kady Finnerty led Jay County with two hits and two RBIs. Chloe Trissel and Maggie Pryor both contributed two hits, and Trissel added a stolen base.
Tough day for Jay
MONROEVILLE — The Jay County baseball team managed one hit and struck out 15 times Thursday in a 6-0 loss to the Heritage Patriots.
Heritage scored the only run it needed during the first inning, but added four more in the fourth for good measure and a 5-0 lead. The host Patriots tacked on another insurance run in the sixth for the final score.
Southpaw Andrew Saalfrank struck out 15 Jay County batters. Jacob Geesaman broke up Saalfrank’s no-hit bid by hitting a single with one out in the seventh.
Jake Myers shouldered the loss. He allowed six runs — five earnd — on six hits. He walked six and struck out six in five innings.
Jay County falls to 11-9 and 3-3 in Allen County Athletic Conference play.

Stars stumble
MARION — A rough fourth inning was the difference for the South Adams baseball team in a 17-8 loss Thursday to the Eastbrook Panthers.
South Adams (13-12) led 6-5 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, but let the game get away from it as Eastbrook scored 11 runs in the bottom of the frame.
Both teams scored a run in the fifth, and the Starfires were not able to bounce back from the rough outing.
Corbin Blomeke hit a grand slam for South Adams.
Gilbert Lynch shouldered the loss.