Retrospect: Defense struggled in loss to SAHS

A poor defensive performance crippled the Jay County High School baseball team 25 years ago this week.

Five errors and the mishandling of several other plays doomed Jay County in a 7-2 loss to future conference rival South Adams on April 18, 1994, in Berne.

Just one of the Starfires’ seven runs was earned, and all were charged to JCHS starting pitcher John Bailey. He gave up five hits, struck out nine and walked four in five innings. Jimmy Ferrell threw the final two innings.

But their defense was not much help.

“We didn’t show up to play,” JCHS coach Lea Selvey told The Commercial Review. “John had a good game. I thought Jimmy was his consistent self. The rest of them I don’t think showed up.”

Jay County, which had won its previous two games, manufactured a run in the top of the first inning as leadoff hitter Dave Reynolds walked and reached third base on an errant pickoff attempt. He scored on a Josh Pogue sacrifice fly to center field.

The Patriots’ defense set the tone in the home half of the frame, crumbling to the effect of three errors that put the Starfires ahead for good, 2-1.

South Adams added a pair of unearned runs in the third inning and tacked on three more in the fifth. 

Josh Habegger of South Adams allowed four hits, struck out seven and walked a half dozen as he went all seven innings.