Jay falls below .500 for first time in a month

RICHMOND — The Patriots spent most of the season at or above .500.
For the first time in more than a month, they have a losing record.
The Jay County High School baseball team lost two games Saturday in the Bob Haustetter Invitational at McBride Stadium.
The Patriots (11-12) dropped a 1-0 decision to the New Haven Bulldogs before falling to the Seymour Owls 4-1.
New Haven scored the only run in the game during the top of the fourth inning. Jay County was held hitless until the sixth inning before Jacob Geesaman hit a single. Ryan Schlechty also reached base on a walk.
Ethan Myers shouldered the loss against the Bulldogs. He scattered five hits over seven complete innings, allowing one earned run while striking out four and walking three.
Against the Owls, Jay County had a brief 1-0 lead in the third inning before Seymour scored twice in the bottom of the fourth.
The Owls scored a run in each of the fifth and sixth innings to add some insurance to their lead.
Andy Kohler and Schlechty both had doubles for the Patriots, who also got singles from Mitchel Frasher, Max Moser, Michael Schlechty, Myers and Geesaman.
Freshman Wyatt Geesaman pitched in game two, allowing four runs — three earned — on seven hits while walking three and striking out seven.

Stars win invite
BERNE — A dominating pitching performance and stellar defense led the South Adams softball team in winning the Starfire Invitational it hosted.
The Stars (19-6) defeated the Union Rockets 10-0 in five innings behind the pitching prowess of Katelin Augsburger, then defeated the Monroe Central Golden Bears 5-3 in the title game.
Augsburger allowed one hit and a walk while striking out 10 against the Rockets. She also had two hits and drove in three runs, as South Adams scored twice in each of the first and second innings before adding three runs in the third and fifth frames. Keirstyn Grimm also had three hits, with Abby Myers and Morgan Alberson each adding two.
In the title game, Augsburger surrendered eight hits but the Starfire defense was able to limit further damage. Monroe Central scored a run in each of the first, third and sixth innings. South Adams, meanwhile, fell behind 2-1 after the third before taking the lead for good with two runs in the fourth.
Kayla LeFever and Myers both had two hits.

SA takes two
FOUNTAIN CITY — Clutch performances both on offense and defense helped the South Adams baseball team sweep a doubleheader against the Northeastern Knights on Saturday.
South Adams (15-12) held off a late rally to win the first game 7-5, then scored three runs in the seventh inning to take game two, 7-6.
Corbin Blomeke and Tyler Sprunger both had a hit and drove in two runs in game one. Jayden Dull had two singles and an RBI, as Braxton Haight and Marcus Teeter also drove in a run.
Justin Nussbaum earned the win, allowing one unearned run while scattering four hits, striking out nine and walking three in five innings.
Terry Dawn had two RBIs in game two, with Joe Stuber, Nussbaum and Teeter also tallying RBIs.
Grant Besser got the win, throwing 1 2/3 innings. He struck out two and gave up one hit.

Pioneer tops Williams
Pioneer Packaging defeated Williams Auto Parts 5-2 Saturday in Portland Junior League’s Rookie baseball division.
Jayden Comer had two singles and a double for Pioneer, which also got a double and a single from Maddox Huffman as well as three singles and a double from Dominick Bright. Max Dues, Carson Busick and Sam Wiggins each added two singles.
Izzy McAbee led Williams with two singles. Joe Geesaman added a double and Wes Wenning smacked a triple.

PG-14 wins
In the Willie Mays division of PJL, PG-14 defeated MainSource Bank on Saturday, 9-6.
Tyler Manor had a double and a single to lead PG-14. Ryne Goldsworthy also had a hit and two RBIs. Allen Dues, Isaac Dues, Ryler Johnson, Landon Blowers and Conner Specht all had an RBI for PG-14.
Cody Rowles led MainSource with a double and two RBIs. Koby Lewellen and Brady Davis both had two singles. Jayden Hartzell also had a single.