Homers power Patriots past Delta

The battle for the team lead in home runs heated up in the final game of the regular season.

Noah Arbuckle’s gave the Patriots a lead. Michael Schlechty’s blast added some insurance.

Arbuckle and Schlechty both went deep Tuesday, powering the Jay County High School baseball team to an 11-7 victory against the Delta Eagles in the regular-season finale at Don E. Selvey Field.

Delta scored twice in the top of the first inning, and after a single and an error, Arbuckle hit a 3-1 pitch over the fence in left field for his seventh homer of the season, giving Jay County (16-5) a 3-2 lead.

With his team ahead 8-3 entering the bottom of the fifth inning, Schlechty homered to left field, his seventh of the year to pull even with Arbuckle for most on the team. Schlechty’s blast extended the score to 10-3.

The tandem also doubled, with Arbuckle driving in four total runs and Schlechty notching a pair of singles as well. Daniel Fugiett and Schlechty each had two RBIs. Ryan Schlechty, who got the save in 2/3 innings of relief, singled three times, and Gabe Faulkner had two hits.

Isaac Moeller got the win, allowing six runs — five earned — on six hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked six.



Jay golfers second

The Jay County boys golf team took second place in a meet with the Union City Indians and Randolph Southern Rebels on Tuesday at Portland Golf Club.

Union City shot 194 to win, and Jay County was the runner-up with 223. Randolph Southern shot 360 for third.

A day after setting a career best score of 47, Kyle Sanders shaved four strokes off that mark in leading the Patriots with a 43. His round included a birdie on the par-3 eighth hole.

Seth Wilson was second for Jay County with his 52, and Devin Harris was third with 62. Joey Hall completed the team score with 66.

Isaac Braun also competed, but his 68 did not factor into the overall total.

Derick Williams of Union City beat Sanders by one stroke to earn medalist honors.



Slam powers Inman

Joe Geesaman hit a grand slam Tuesday, leading Inman U-Loc to a 6-2 win against PG-14 in Portland Junior League’s Willie Mays division.

Gavin Byrum, Freddie Lingo and Caleb Sibray all singled and scored a run for Inman.

Maddox Huffman tripled, singled and knocked in a run for PG-14, which also got a single and run from Leighton Brown and a run from Nick Snow.



Lions top Optimist

Lions Club topped Portland Optimist 8-6 in PJL’s Willie Mays action on Tuesday.

Alex Miller doubled and scored twice for Lions Club. Eli Stockton hit a double, as Skyler Esparza, Wes Wenning, Andrew Day and Jayden Novak all singled and scored.

Dominick Bright homered in the loss for Optimist. Max Klopfenstein singled and scored a run, while Jayden Harrell, Carson Busick and Gabe Bowers all scored as well.