April 14, 2023 at 4:49 p.m.
JC keeps bashing
Offensive keeps undefeated Patriots rolling in 13-7 victory over host Fort Recovery Indians
JC keeps bashing
By Andrew Balko-
FORT RECOVERY — The offense was just too much to handle.
The Patriots entered Thursday’s game averaging 12.1 runs. The Indians were unable to quiet their bats.
After an even first three innings, Jay County High Schools’ softball team scored three times in the top of the fourth to reclaim the lead and then broke the game open with a five-run fifth as it once again hit the cover off of the ball in a 13-7 win over Fort Recovery.
Up 8-5 after the fourth inning, the Patriots pulled away in the top of the fifth as senior Brianna Zorn led off with a single that died between the pitcher and first baseman. Janae Jacobs then reached base on an error by center fielder Emma Will, setting up Mady Fraley with runners on second and third.
Fraley delivered for the Patriots (8-0) with a three-run home run to left field. It was her first homer of the season.
“I feel great,” Fraley said. “It was nice to finally get my bat on the ball. I haven't been on my best A game this year with hitting so far, so it felt really good.”
Later in the inning, Renna Schwieterman drove in two more runs on a ground ball up the middle to give the Patriots an eight-run lead (13-5).
Jay County has scored a dozen or more runs in six of its eight games.
That includes four of the last five as the Patriots head into tonight’s home game against Norwell, a squad that beat them 12-2 in 2022.
While the Indians (2-4) struggled to hold the Patriots’ offense down, they were able to jump out to an early 3-2 lead thanks to a three-run home run from Maddie Guggenbiller. The shot was Guggenbiller’s 11th career home run, tying the school record held by Lydia Wenning (2017-20).
“It's something that I've worked for, for a long time,” Guggenbiller said. “I've always been working to achieve one goal — just to get better in softball. It just happens that I'm able to hit.”
The Patriots responded with three runs of their own in the top of the second inning thanks to a walk from Jacobs, singles from Mallory Winner and Jaelynn Lykins, and a double from the red-hot Riah Champ.
Champ currently leads the team in batting average (.714), home runs (four), runs (15) and RBIs (23).
“I just go up there with a positive mindset and hit the ball,” Champ said.
The Indians never backed down offensively, getting 17 hits on the day, but still couldn’t keep up with the Patriots’ run-scoring prowess. The Tribe had 12 players left on base.
Outside of Guggenbiller’s home run, Fort Recovery scored two runs on two errors by first baseman Jozey Shimp in the third inning and on a single from Ava Gisez, and a fielder’s choice from Brittney Tebbe in the seventh.
FRHS coach Carrie Schoen declined to comment after the game.
The Indians used three pitchers in the game. Tebbe started in the circle before handing the ball off to Sophie Pearson, who suffered the loss as she gave up eight hits and eight runs in 2 1/3 innings of work. Freshman Jenna Homan continued to pitch well, tossing 2 2/3 scoreless innings.
Three of the Patriot’s runs were unearned.
“We get that one error and then it's downhill from there,” Guggenbiller said. “We lose focus and it's hard to gain that back.”
Jay County’s Mallory Winner picked up the win, her seventh on the year. She only gave up three earned runs on 10 hits. Taylor Brown threw three innings of relief, giving up two runs.
“Taylor is not a big strikeout, going to throw the ball by you, pitcher,” Arbuckle said. “She hits her spots and keeps you off balance. The girls were out in front of her swinging over the top. She gets some ground balls.
“Defensively, we have played awesome this year. 99.9% of the time we have made plays when we need to make plays. That's a great job by them. Our pitchers rely on them to help them out and come out and make big plays.”
The Patriots did have some hiccups defensively with seven errors on the game, but they also executed a run-saving double play in the third inning. With runners at first and third, Ava Schoen hit a ground ball to Champ at third base. Champ threw Schoen out at first, followed by Shimp throwing Pearson out at home plate.
Guggenbiller was the Indians’ top hitter with a home run, three hits and three RBIs. Pearson, Will and Grisez all added three hits as well.
Champ and Fraley led the Patriots offensively, combining for five hits and seven of the team’s 11 RBIs.
The Patriots entered Thursday’s game averaging 12.1 runs. The Indians were unable to quiet their bats.
After an even first three innings, Jay County High Schools’ softball team scored three times in the top of the fourth to reclaim the lead and then broke the game open with a five-run fifth as it once again hit the cover off of the ball in a 13-7 win over Fort Recovery.
Up 8-5 after the fourth inning, the Patriots pulled away in the top of the fifth as senior Brianna Zorn led off with a single that died between the pitcher and first baseman. Janae Jacobs then reached base on an error by center fielder Emma Will, setting up Mady Fraley with runners on second and third.
Fraley delivered for the Patriots (8-0) with a three-run home run to left field. It was her first homer of the season.
“I feel great,” Fraley said. “It was nice to finally get my bat on the ball. I haven't been on my best A game this year with hitting so far, so it felt really good.”
Later in the inning, Renna Schwieterman drove in two more runs on a ground ball up the middle to give the Patriots an eight-run lead (13-5).
Jay County has scored a dozen or more runs in six of its eight games.
That includes four of the last five as the Patriots head into tonight’s home game against Norwell, a squad that beat them 12-2 in 2022.
While the Indians (2-4) struggled to hold the Patriots’ offense down, they were able to jump out to an early 3-2 lead thanks to a three-run home run from Maddie Guggenbiller. The shot was Guggenbiller’s 11th career home run, tying the school record held by Lydia Wenning (2017-20).
“It's something that I've worked for, for a long time,” Guggenbiller said. “I've always been working to achieve one goal — just to get better in softball. It just happens that I'm able to hit.”
The Patriots responded with three runs of their own in the top of the second inning thanks to a walk from Jacobs, singles from Mallory Winner and Jaelynn Lykins, and a double from the red-hot Riah Champ.
Champ currently leads the team in batting average (.714), home runs (four), runs (15) and RBIs (23).
“I just go up there with a positive mindset and hit the ball,” Champ said.
The Indians never backed down offensively, getting 17 hits on the day, but still couldn’t keep up with the Patriots’ run-scoring prowess. The Tribe had 12 players left on base.
Outside of Guggenbiller’s home run, Fort Recovery scored two runs on two errors by first baseman Jozey Shimp in the third inning and on a single from Ava Gisez, and a fielder’s choice from Brittney Tebbe in the seventh.
FRHS coach Carrie Schoen declined to comment after the game.
The Indians used three pitchers in the game. Tebbe started in the circle before handing the ball off to Sophie Pearson, who suffered the loss as she gave up eight hits and eight runs in 2 1/3 innings of work. Freshman Jenna Homan continued to pitch well, tossing 2 2/3 scoreless innings.
Three of the Patriot’s runs were unearned.
“We get that one error and then it's downhill from there,” Guggenbiller said. “We lose focus and it's hard to gain that back.”
Jay County’s Mallory Winner picked up the win, her seventh on the year. She only gave up three earned runs on 10 hits. Taylor Brown threw three innings of relief, giving up two runs.
“Taylor is not a big strikeout, going to throw the ball by you, pitcher,” Arbuckle said. “She hits her spots and keeps you off balance. The girls were out in front of her swinging over the top. She gets some ground balls.
“Defensively, we have played awesome this year. 99.9% of the time we have made plays when we need to make plays. That's a great job by them. Our pitchers rely on them to help them out and come out and make big plays.”
The Patriots did have some hiccups defensively with seven errors on the game, but they also executed a run-saving double play in the third inning. With runners at first and third, Ava Schoen hit a ground ball to Champ at third base. Champ threw Schoen out at first, followed by Shimp throwing Pearson out at home plate.
Guggenbiller was the Indians’ top hitter with a home run, three hits and three RBIs. Pearson, Will and Grisez all added three hits as well.
Champ and Fraley led the Patriots offensively, combining for five hits and seven of the team’s 11 RBIs.
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD