Jay Co. junior silences Heritage

Two Patriots threw a no-hitter last season.

Gaven Hare helped them match the number this year.

Hare didn’t allow a hit Thursday, helping the Jay County High School baseball team to an 8-2 victory against the visiting Heritage Patriots.

Hare, a junior, allowed two runs — one earned — with five walks while striking out seven in the complete-game effort.

Jay County (9-3, 5-0 Allen County Athletic Conference) scored three times in the bottom of the first inning and added one more in the second for an early 4-0 advantage. Heritage plated a run in the third before Jay County scored two more in the home half of the frame.

Both teams scored once in the fifth inning, and the host Patriots added an insurance run in the sixth.

Brothers Jacob and Wyatt Geesaman, Max Moser and Payton Heniser all hit doubles for Jay County. Moser and Heniser led the team with two RBIs apiece. Mitchel Frasher and Heniser each collected two hits.

Jay County is guaranteed at least a share of the ACAC championship, but can win it outright with a victory at home tonight against Bluffton.



Jay tops SA

CELINA, Ohio — Consistency was key yet again as the Jay County boys golf team defeated South Adams 163-192 on Thursday at Celina Lynx.

Collin Haines, Jay Houck and Kyler Hudson each shot 4-over-par 40s, two days after three Patriots shot matching scores of 41 in a win over Southern Wells.

Nick Hayden shot 43 to complete the Patriots’ team score. Matt Franks shot a career-best 48, and Ian James carded a 58.

David Muselman led the Starfires with 42. Jake Rife was one stroke behind him, with J.D. Groh shooting 47 for third on the team. Eli Hamrick completed the SAHS team score with 60. Nick Wurster also competed, and he finished with 61.



Patriots beat Bruins

HARTFORD CITY — Jay County’s girls tennis team closed out the last full week of the regular season with a 4-1 win over the host Blackford Bruins on Thursday.

Megan Johnson and Klarisa Hemmelgarn each won their singles matches. Johnson defeated Audrey Foster at No. 1 singles, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, and Hemmelgarn earned a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Dakota Mohler.

Cousins Audrey and Kayla Dirksen defeated Sara Gregory and Brianna Phillips at No. 1 doubles, 6-4, 6-3. Emily Reier and Betsy Muhlenkamp teamed for a 6-3, 7-5 win at No. 2 doubles against Sierria McPherson and Ashley Willmann.

Jay County’s junior varsity team won 6-0. Dawn Minnick, Katy Hamilton, Elyse Bost and Mackynzie Fairchild all won singles matches. Kaitlyn Ruiz and Janae Kirby teamed for a doubles victory, as did Kristy Alig and Sara Muhlenkamp.



Rally falls short

Jay County’s softball team put up a late rally but fell short in a 6-5 loss to the visiting Heritage Patriots on Thursday.

Jay County (4-7, 2-3 Allen County Athletic Conference) scored three runs in the fifth inning to get within one, but wasn’t able to tie the score in the final two frames.

Heritage scored four runs in the third inning, erasing a 2-1 deficit. The visiting Patriots added one more in the fifth inning for a 6-2 advantage before Jay County mounted its comeback one inning later.

Sam Twigg had two hits and drove in a pair of runs in leading Jay County, which also got two singles and two stolen bases from Chloe Trissel.

Kady Finnerty and Kensey Litton had two hits apiece, with Hannah Phillips and Gwen Butcher each tallying singles.



JC falls to Heritage

MONROEVILLE — An early deficit proved too much to overcome Thursday as the Jay County junior varsity softball team lost to the host Heritage Patriots, 13-5.

Heritage scored runs in each of the first five innings, including four in the second and three in the third to lead 8-1 heading into the fourth. Heritage tacked on one run in the fourth inning, two in the fifth and two in the sixth. Jay County, meanwhile, plated two runs in the fifth and two more in the seventh but didn’t get any closer.

Britney Mullins led JCHS with two hits, two RBIs, a stolen base and a run.



Golfers fall to Eagles

MUNCIE — Jay County’s middle school golf team dropped its first match of the season on Thursday, 227-261 to the Delta Eagles at Delaware Country Club.

Griffin Mann led Jay County with a 59. Kyle Sanders was second on the team with 64. Raquel Wehrly, Isaac Braun, Matthew Hall and Jordan Harter each shot 69 to complete the team score.