Early deficit dooms Patriots

RICHMOND — The Patriots have been able to climb out of early deficits this season.
They weren’t able to do it again Friday.
Three runs in each of the second and third innings proved to be too much for the Jay County High School baseball team in a 7-4 loss to the Richmond Red Devils in the opening game of the Bob Haustetter Invitational at McBride Stadium.
The Patriots (11-10) return to Richmond for two games today. They meet New Haven at noon before a 2:30 p.m. game against Seymour.
Trailing 6-1 after four innings, Jay County scored once in the sixth before the host Red Devils matched it with a run in the bottom of the frame. The visitors cut the deficit to 7-4 with a pair of runs in the seventh, but couldn’t send their defense out to the field one more time.
Junior Jacob Geesaman was a home run shy of the cycle, and freshman Ryan Schlechty added a double, a single and an RBI. Wyatt Geesaman, Jacob’s freshman brother, had two singles and an RBI, and Ethan Myers also drove in a run for the Patriots.
Sophomore Gaven Hare suffered the loss. He gave up seven runs — four earned — on seven hits. He struck out four and walked six in the complete-game effort.