First in a decade

With virtually everyone returning from a squad that upset Guerin Catholic in the 2016 sectional semifinal and played in its first sectional championship game since 2008, the Patriots knew they had a chance to have some fun this year.

They delivered Friday, celebrating on the mound and then donning conference-championship T-shirts for the first time in a decade.

Jay County High School’s baseball team took control with a four-run first inning and never faltered in a 5-1 victory over the visiting Bluffton Tigers.

The win locked up the Allen County Athletic Conference title with a perfect 6-0 record and resulted in the Patriots (10-3 overall) dousing longtime coach Lea Selvey with icy water during his postgame interview.

“That is cold,” he said, “but well worth it.”

The last JCHS league title came in 2007 while it was a member of a four-team Olympic Athletic Conference along with Muncie Southside, Anderson Highland and Connersville. The group disbanded at the conclusion of the 2010 season, and the Patriots were independent until joining the ACAC in 2014-15.

That squad 10 years ago also went on to win the sectional title. It’s a path this year’s team hopes to follow.

“It’s definitely a great feeling,” said senior catcher Jacob Geesaman. “The guys have been playing great. Hopefully we can continue. There’s a lot of season left. …

“This is definitely the first step. I don’t think we can’t achieve greater things.”

Bluffton (3-13, 1-5 ACAC) jumped on top in its effort to spoil the Patriots’ party thanks to an unearned run in the top of the first inning. But each of the first three JCHS batters reached base with leadoff man Cole Stigleman hitting a sharp single to left field and Ryan Schlechty and Geesaman following with back-to-back walks.

An Ethan Myers sacrifice fly brought Stigleman to the plate to tie the game, and then Max Moser singled to load the bases again. Michael Schlechty’s fielder’s choice allowed his twin to score to give the Patriots the lead for good, and the advantage jumped to 4-1 thanks to an error and a wild pitch before Bluffton starter Mitchell Kuhlenbeck was able to end the inning.

The three-run cushion was plenty for Myers, who went the distance and allowed just two hits and two walks over the final six innings. He finished with five strikeouts.

“He just settled in,” Selvey said. “Him and I have talked for a long time about just pitch to contact. You’re good enough, just pitch to contact, hit your spots. … He pitched well.”

Jay County tacked on its other run in the fifth inning when Stigleman drew a leadoff walk, zoomed all the way to third base on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out by Geesaman.

Stigleman finished 1-for-2 with the pair of runs, and Michael Schlechty went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Geesaman, Moser and Ryan Schlechty all had one hit and one walk in the win.

Meanwhile, the Tigers managed to get just two runners past first base after the first inning.

“We had a sophomore go out and peel on the mound on Tuesday and we won a game with two hits,” said Bluffton coach Stacy Herrold. “It’s hard to do those types of things day in and day out and have success. We’re young, but we’ve been playing long enough now where they need to realize that when you get ahead offensively in the count that you’re attacking the fastball that’s coming. Right now, we’re just not quite there yet.”

Jay County cruised through the ACAC schedule this year, with its closest games being a 6-2 conference opener against Woodlan and Friday’s clincher. It also defeated Heritage 8-2, Adams Central 9-1, Southern Wells 12-4 and, South Adams 15-5.

“It’s been a while,” Selvey said. “I thought a couple years ago this could be the year we could do it. I thought last year we could, but you always had to go through Heritage and (pitcher Andrew) Saalfrank. I thought we could this year. I think we have the ability, a lot of people returning. There’s a lot to look forward to with these guys.”