Patriot softball blasts Muncie Central, 15-3

The Patriots pounced on the Bearcats in each of the first four innings.

The visitors didn’t hit the scoreboard until it was too late.

Jay County High School’s softball team pounced on the Muncie Central Bearcats early and often Friday in a 15-3 thrashing in five innings.

The Patriots (5-5) scored four times in the first inning before adding five runs in each of the next two innings. They added one more in the fourth to finish a stretch of 15 consecutive runs.

Muncie Central’s only offense came to the tune of three runs in the top of the fifth inning.

Kensey Litton led Jay County with three hits and three stolen bases. Hannah Phillips also had two singles and swiped a pair of bases, while Shelby Hiestand and Shelby Caldwell each collected two hits. Chloe Trissel hit a home run and drove in four runs.

Maggie Pryor, Kailee Denney, Randi Ferguson, Kaylee Inman and Sam Twigg also had singles.



Jay beats Eagles

Jay County’s girls tennis team earned a 3-2 win over the Frankton Eagles on Friday.

At No. 1 singles, Shelby McClain won 6-3, 6-2, for the Patriots’ only singles win.

Cousins Audrey Dirksen and Kayla Dirksen earned a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 1 doubles, while Emily Reier and Betsy Muhlenkamp picked up a 6-3, 6-2 win.

At No. 2 singles, Klarisa Hemmelgarn fought an illness but dropped her match 6-1, 7-6 (9-7). Katy Hamilton fell at No. 3 singles 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.

Patriots rout ’Cats

The Jay County junior varsity softball team scored seven runs in the first inning en route to a 16-4 rout of the Muncie Central Bearcats in five innings Friday.

Muncie Central cut the deficit to 7-4 in the top of the third inning, but the Patriots (5-1) responded with five runs in the home half of the frame for a 12-3 advantage. They tacked on four more in the bottom of the fourth before the Bearcats got one back in the top of the fifth and failed to prevent a run-rule defeat.

Rieley Brewster was 2-for-4 with a triple, a single, three runs and an RBI. Maria Gross had a single and two RBIs, while Natalie Miles hit a double, drove in a run and scored twice.



Fisher tops Crossroads

Fisher Meats topped Crossroads Financial Federal Credit Union 11-8 Friday in Portland Junior League’s Minor softball action.

LayLiana Eldeeb led Fisher with two doubles and a single, while Nevaeh Armstrong notched a double and a single. Jasmina Esparza contributed two singles.

Kenleigh Smith, Hallie Schwieterman and Brooklyn Bright each had a single for Crossroads.